Reform in Visa Categorization & Process to boost Tourism

India has streamlines Visa categories - cut from 13 to 9 and application fields slashed by up to 70%.

Rationalization of Visa Categories: The Government of India has reduced the primary visa categories from 13 to 9. The number of sub-categories has been significantly trimmed from 49 to 23.
Simplified Application Process: Across all 23 categories and sub-categories, the mandatory fields and columns in the application forms have been reduced by 65% to 70%. The move significantly lowers paperwork, streamlining the application process for international travelers.
Key Objectives: According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the reforms are designed to:

Boost Foreign Tourism: Facilitate easier, faster entry for international tourists.
Promote Medical Value Travel: Encourage more foreign patients seeking medical treatment in India.
Attract Foreign Students: Simplify visa procedures to encourage global enrollments in Indian educational institutions.

Phased Simplification Background: This marks the second phase of visa rationalization. In October of the previous year, the government had already reduced main categories from 22 to 13, and sub-categories from 63 to 49.
Implementation and Rollout Timeline: The Ministry of Home Affairs is actively updating backend IT systems to support the new framework. Visas will be officially granted under the newly rationalized system by the end of the year.