The ITEC programme is open to all, including those in government or private employment, but a condition is that the course being attended should have some bearing on the kind of work the applicant is involved in.

For instance, those involved in journalism or publishing can apply for courses offered by the Indian Institute of Mass Communications while persons who are employed in industrial units, running their own companies or are working in government and dealing with industrial development, could avail of courses in the National Institute For Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development. The core philosophy is that the training received in India should be relevant to and of use in the candidate’s job or sphere of activity. While filling up the application form, each candidate is expected to briefly explain how he or she expects the training programme chosen to be of use in his/her profession.

Applicants from the Government sector need to be nominated by an agency identified by the Russian Government for the purpose, while private sector employees should be recommended by recognized Chambers of Commerce.

The only conditions are that the candidate should be between 25 to 45 years of age and MUST possess knowledge of English as all courses are conducted in that language only. Candidates who have already attended ITEC programmes in India are not eligible to apply again.

Once the application form has been filled in by the candidate, it has to be sponsored on behalf of the Russian government by some authority. This authority could be the regional government or department where he/she is employed. All regions usually have a department which deals with international relations and who are authorized to sponsor applications under ITEC. Applications are also sponsored in some cases directly by the Consulate Generals of India located in St. Petersburg and Vladivostok or by the Embassy of India in Moscow.
Those who are self employed or heading their own companies can be sponsored by the local chambers of commerce and industry.

Two copies of applications forms, duly filled in along with two passport sized photographs, should arrive in the Embassy of India in Moscow at least three months before the commencement of the course. The final selection is done by the concerned institute in consultation with the Indian Foreign Office in New Delhi. Candidates who are selected have to come to Moscow to collect their visas and air tickets. The Embassy of India provides air tickets from Moscow to New Delhi or the city in India where the training is being held only. Candidates who come from cities/regions in Russia other than Moscow will have to bear the cost of their travel to Moscow and back after their return.

Visas for ITEC students are free of charge. In the case of candidates from regions falling under the jurisdiction of the Indian Consulates in Vladivostok and St. Petersburg, visas are issued by the consulates. As candidates from outside Moscow cannot make separate journeys for visa and ticket formalities, candidates are called to the Indian Embassy a day before their departure for the completion of these formalities and for briefing. While in Moscow, candidates have to make their own arrangements for accommodation and transport.

Arrangements are usually made by the concerned institute to receive the trainees upon their arrival in India. A stipend, ranging up to a maximum of 5,000 Indian rupees per month is given to the trainees to cover part of their expenses. This figure varies from institute to institute. All institutes have catering facilities and the cost of the food provided is deducted from the stipend with the trainee receiving the balance. All trainees should take along some money of their own to cover incidental expenditures. About 300 dollars is quite sufficient given the current exchange rate of about Rupees 48 = 1 US dollar. The training institutes usually arrange local tours to places of tourist and professional interest during the course Ц a standard destination for trainees who go to NIESBUD in New Delhi is the famous Taj Mahal in Agra.

After the trainees return from India upon the completion of the course, they are expected to fill up a feedback form, indicating what they felt about the programme, whether they found it useful, whether they had any problems and any other impressions or comments which they would like to convey. This enables the Embassy to recommend corrective actions in case of problems and helps the institute and the Indian Government assess the worth of the programme and its relevance, as perceived by the trainees.