Parliament Question: Establishment of University townships and foreign campuses

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4186 ANSWERED ON-01/04/2026 Establishment of University townships and foreign campuses 4186 # Shri Deepak Prakash: Shri Sadanand Mhalu Shet Tanavade: Dr. Parmar Jashvantsinh Salamsinh: Shri Ujjwal Deorao Nikam: Dr. Medha Vishram Kulkarni: Shri Brij Lal: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) whether the proposal to develop five University Townships near major industrial corridors was finalised in Budget 2026, and; (b) if not, the reasons for the delay and the timeframe within which Government proposes to finalise the locations and implementation framework; (c) how many foreign universities from UK, USA and Australia have received approval to open Indian campuses including in the State of Maharashtra; (d) what is the operational status of the ‘Study in India’ Edu-Diplomatic Conclave held in March, 2026; (e) whether Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill is scheduled for tabling in the 2026 Monsoon Session; and (f) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) to (f): As announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, the Union Government aims to support States, in creating 5 University Townships in the vicinity of major industrial and logistic corridors. With the states participating in the initiative through a challenge-based process, a holistic higher education ecosystem through planned academic zones hosting multiple universities, colleges, research institutions, skill centres and residential complexes is envisaged to be created. To promote internationalization of education in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP), Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) have been permitted to establish their campuses in India under University Grants Commission (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023, and the International Financial Services Centers Authority (Setting up and Operation of International Branch Campuses and Offshore EducationCenters) Regulations, 2022. UGC has issued 14 Letters of Intent (LoIs) to FHEIs, including those from Australia, United Kingdom and USA to establish their campuses at various places in India, including in the State of Maharashtra. Under IFSCA regulations, 2022, approvals have been granted to 5 universities from Australia and the UK to establish offshore branch campuses in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Department of Higher Education, Government of India has also organised the “Study in India Edu- Diplomatic Conclave” in March 2026 bringing together Ambassadors, High Commissioners, representatives of diplomatic missions from over 50 countries. The conclave served as a platform to promote the ‘Study in India’ programme, highlighting opportunities in higher education and short-term courses in India. The conclave also encouraged institutional collaborations and invited globally ranked universities to establish campuses in India. Further, with an aim to establish a single, unified national regulator for higher education in India the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025 (earlier Higher Education Commission of India Bill) has already been introduced in the Lok Sabha on 15th December 2025. *****