India is in talks with countries like Hungary, Romania, Kazakhstan and Poland for continuing education of students evacuated from Ukraine, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.

Responding to a discussion in Lok Sabha on the situation in Ukraine, Jaishankar said the Ukrainian government too has offered relaxation for students for taking two key examinations in their medical education courses.

He said the Ukrainian government has decided there would be a relaxation for students with respect to promotion from the third to the fourth year.

"The mandatory CROC exam has been postponed to the next academic year. As for the students in the sixth year, the degrees would be accorded without taking the mandatory CROC-2 examination. The criterion would solely be academic performance," Jaishankar told the House.

He noted that Hungary had offered to allow students evacuated from Ukraine to complete their medical courses at its universities.

"In addition to Hungary, there were offers from other countries. We have been in touch with Hungary, Romania, Kazakhstan and Poland about continuing education for the students evacuated from Ukraine. Because these countries have similar education systems," he said.

He noted that ministries of education and health were seized of the matter and were exploring ways on how those evacuated from Ukraine could continue their education.

The finance ministry has also asked banks to assess the impact of the Ukraine crisis on the educational loans offered by them to students in Ukraine, the minister told members.

"There are 1,319 students who have outstanding loans," he said.

Responding to issues flagged by members during the course of the discussion on Tuesday, the minister said some students did not leave as they thought it will disturb their education.

Several universities at that time had refused to offer online courses, he said adding that a university in Kyiv said it cannot convert to online system.

"There was one in Odessa which said we can online classes till February 25 only. A university in Kharkiv -- the embassy kept calling them and even sent someone to meet -- they were not willing to meet," he said. Some universities suggested that students should stay back as things won't get serious, he said.

Referring to reports back then that Russia was withdrawing some of its units, Jaishankar said when he checked it personally from the Ukrainian end, they were asking students not to panic as they could control things. He said such signalling had put the students in a dilemma.

Asserting that India is strongly against the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar said if New Delhi has chosen a side, it is the side of peace and for an immediate end to violence.

He added that all members would agree that India's approach should be guided by its national beliefs and values, national interest and by its national strategy.

Elaborating on what India is advocating in Ukraine, Jaishankar said, "We are strongly against the conflict, we believe that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives. In this day and age, dialogue and diplomacy are the right answers to any disputes.

On Operation Ganga - India's evacuation mission for citizens stranded in Ukraine - he said that it was the most challenging evacuation carried out by India. "Had the four Union ministers not gone to countries neighbouring Ukraine, India would not have got the same level of cooperation," he said.

One should bear in mind that the contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, on respect for international law and for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, he asserted. "If India has chosen a side, it is a side of peace and it is for an immediate end to violence. This is our principled stand and has consistently guided our position in international forums and debates, including in the UN," Jaishankar said.

Talking about the civilian killings in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, Jaishankar said India is "deeply disturbed" by the reports. "We strongly condemn the killings that have taken place there. This is an extremely serious matter and we support the call for an independent investigation," he said. Jaishankar also said that attributing a political colour to India's actions vis-a-vis the Ukraine situation was unfortunate.

On humanitarian assistance, Jaishankar told the House that 90 tonnes of relief material was underway. India would work with the international community to soften the economic impact of the war, he added. "Food security is another matter of concern," he stated. "India’s export with respect to basmati, non-basmati, sugar and wheat have gone up," he said.