| As a relocation destination, India is set to make the top | | | | in certain months. Also, most schools won't accept |
| four within the next two years. While many | | | | students in the middle of an academic year. |
| precedents exist with regard to international mobility, | | | | At nursery school level, where corporate employers |
| companies and workers relocating to India face a | | | | rarely pick up the bills, parents can expect to pay |
| number of country-specific challenges. | | | | around $200 a quarter, sometimes in addition to |
| Many of these relate to the facilities available struggling | | | | enrolment fees and non-refundable deposits. A few |
| to keep pace with exploding demand, both from the | | | | nursery schools use Montessori methods and |
| growing expatriate and returning Indian national | | | | equipment. Embassy nurseries are more expensive |
| populations. Since India does not have its own | | | | and also have extensive waiting lists. Note that with |
| organised relocation industry - although established | | | | competition for good schools starting at ever-younger |
| global players are entering the market - these | | | | ages, the Indian supreme court recently banned |
| challenges are best managed in partnership with | | | | interviews for nursery school places in the state of |
| relocation experts and before departure. | | | | Delhi. A similar petition to scrap nursery school |
| Housing | | | | interviews is before Mumbai high court. |
| Housing costs have sky rocketed recently and can be | | | | Expect to pay up to $20 an hour for extra-curricular |
| very expensive. Fortunately, the medium-term should | | | | activities like music lessons, foreign languages and |
| see the arrival of new and better quality housing | | | | sports. Again, the best tutors will have waiting lists. |
| (mostly unfurnished) in the rental market following | | | | Given the sensitivities around schooling and its |
| current levels of investment. In the interim, it pays to | | | | importance for assignment success, HR managers |
| hire the services of an established home finder. They | | | | would do well to have a clear policy to manage |
| can guide you through the complexities involved in | | | | expectations and avoid miscommunication and conflict |
| renting accommodation in this quickly changing | | | | during the assignment. This could cover issues like who |
| environment, eg lengthy waiting lists, possible long-lease | | | | pays for additional costs like trips, equipment, travel and |
| requirements, the facilities available in both short- and | | | | meals. |
| long-term housing, and should be able to use their | | | | Getting around |
| contacts to favourable effect. | | | | India's transport infrastructure, also currently the focus |
| All the major cities have a good mix of housing, from | | | | of large-scale investment, can frustrate day-to-day |
| US-style homes in gated compounds to apartment | | | | living. Most of the major metropolitan centres have |
| blocks with porters, terraced and detached homes. | | | | relatively comprehensive public transport services that |
| (NB Mumbai has very few detached/terraced homes.) | | | | are cheap and affordable. Yet overcrowding here and |
| Prices vary drastically from city to city and also | | | | on the roads can be a huge problem, resulting in |
| depending on which part of the city you live in. Expect | | | | persistent traffic jams, noise and air pollution. |
| to pay around £1,000 per month rent for a | | | | Companies with expatriate employees commonly |
| 2-bedroom flat in South Mumbai. In other suburbs, | | | | offer a car or driver, often requiring an employee |
| some 2-bedroom flats and serviced apartments may | | | | contribution, with provision varying at grade level. |
| rent out for as much as £800 per month. | | | | However, most Indians normally use public transport |
| Due to the very high-levels of both noise and air | | | | such as buses and over-ground suburban trains. Other |
| pollution, dust and heat in some areas, it might be | | | | forms of transport are motorized 3 wheelers (called |
| advisable to seek accommodation with high ceilings, | | | | auto-rickshaws) and taxis. In cities like Mumbai, there |
| windows with protection from the sun and perhaps on | | | | are taxis that are air-conditioned, but slightly more |
| the upper floors (fourth and above) in the case of | | | | expensive. |
| apartment blocks. | | | | There are also extensive domestic air services |
| Schools | | | | between India's major cities, which can be an |
| For those with trailing families and school-age children, | | | | economical way in both time and money to travel the |
| schools provision is generally good. For children | | | | country. |
| following an international curriculum, all of the major | | | | Cost of living |
| centres have an international school. These generally | | | | The Indian currency is the Rupee (Rs). |
| compare well with home country standards, with many | | | | Eating out is inexpensive by western standards. |
| offering both IB and home country qualifications. (Note | | | | Restaurants have grades and the cost will vary based |
| that some pupils may need additional tutoring when | | | | on the grade. For example a pizza in a pizza |
| returning home for Common Entrance and similar | | | | restaurant can cost around £1.50 to £4. In |
| examinations.) Competition for the best private schools | | | | Grade I restaurants, a meal for one can cost £6 |
| is fierce. They very often have long waiting lists and | | | | to £15. Local Indian restaurants are much |
| strict entry requirements, including gruelling interviews. It | | | | cheaper, with meals from £1 onwards. Most |
| is therefore imperative to start the application process | | | | cities have Chinese restaurants. |
| in good time. | | | | Visa requirements |
| To meet the burgeoning demand for school places, a | | | | Business visas are normally granted for three or six |
| number of new Indian private schools are being set up. | | | | months. These need renewing if the visa holder leaves |
| The culture of these news schools is very often | | | | the country. However, multiple-entry business visas for |
| results-oriented, and consequently discipline is stricter | | | | up to two years validity may be granted to technicians |
| and the teaching more rigid than in international schools. | | | | and experts going to India in pursuance of bilateral |
| At the same time, some more established international | | | | agreements or joint-venture projects having |
| schools are dipping into their development accounts | | | | government approval, notes the Indian Embassy's |
| (funded from capital and enrolment fees) to upgrade | | | | website. Application processing takes around 15 |
| and expand their facilities. If applying to Indian schools, | | | | working days. |
| remember that most will register new admissions only | | | | |