November 17, 2022, New Delhi – UK India Young Professionals Scheme – Britain’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has decided to approve 3,000 visas for young professionals from India to live and work in the UK for up to two years.ย The new youth mobility partnership scheme was launched by him at the G20 summit in Bali where he met the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi.
The scheme was signed as part of the UK India Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP) in 2021. It will be formally launched at the beginning of 2023.
The launch of the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme has been considered as an appropriate decision for the UK-India bilateral relationship and the commitment of the UK to build stronger ties with the Indo-Pacific region. The details of the scheme are as follows.
UK-India Young Professionals Scheme – General Overview
| Name of the Scheme | UK-India Young Professionals Schemeย |
| Launched By | Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom |
| Launched For | Young Indian Professionals from the age of 18 to 30 years |
| Date of Announcement | November 16, 2022 |
| Aim of the Scheme | To provide an opportunity for young Indian professionals to work and live in UK for up to 2 years |
| Signed Between | The United Kingdom and India |
UK-India Young Professionals Scheme – Eligibility Criteria
- The applicants must be citizens of India or British nationals, living and working in India.
- The applicants must hold a degree or a diploma in a three-year higher education programme.
- The applicants must be able to communicate their basic needs and requirements in English.
UK-India Young Professionals Scheme – New Youth Mobility Partnership Scheme
- The new youth mobility partnership scheme is offering 3,000 visas for young Indian professionals.
- This partnership scheme has made India the first visa-national country to benefit from the scheme.
- The scheme has been introduced by the UK government when the country is facing a huge labor shortage in different industries.
UK-India Young Professionals Scheme – Labour Shortage Issues and Solution
Labour Shortage Issue
- The United Kingdom has been facing a labor shortage in industries like hospitality, manufacturing, construction and others.
- The lack of workers has resulted in inflating wages.
- Businesses are failing due to workforce shortages and facing huge economic losses.
Solution
- To solve this problem, many businesses suggested offering easy work visas to overseas workers in specific jobs.
- The government can also consider adding student and graduate visas and linking them to specific projects.
UK-India Young Professionals Scheme – Challenges
- Though the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme is a wonderful opportunity for young Indian professionals, the selection criteria can bring in several challenges.
- Millions of Indians are meeting the eligibility criteria for this scheme which will result in over-subscription of visas.
- Different controversies regarding monopoly on the scheme are already getting circulated.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who decided to launch the UK India Young Professionals Scheme?
The UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak has decided to approve 3,000 visas for young Indian professionals to live and work in the UK for up to two years.
What are the eligibility criteria for the UK India Young Professionals Scheme?
The applicants must be citizens of India or British nationals who live and work in India. The eligibility criteria must also include the applicants holding a degree or a diploma in a minimum three-year higher education programme.
Where was the UK India Young Professionals Scheme launched?
The UK India Young Professionals Scheme was launched at the G20 Summit in Bali where both the UK and Indian prime ministers, Rishi Sunak and Narendra Modi met.
