Parliament Question: Foreign Investment in Higher Education Sector

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 338 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 Foreign Investment in Higher Education Sector *338. Shri Rajeev Rai: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020) envisages regulated for-profit participation in higher education in India; (b) if so, whether such participation option is made available to both domestic and foreign companies in a transparent manner alike; (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (d) the number of higher educational institutions in the country that have been opened by foreign universities/educational centers/corporate bodies and by Indian investors since the implementation of NEP-2020, State-wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN) (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 338 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 REGARDING FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR ASKED BY SHRI RAJEEV RAI, HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (a) to (d): National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 promotes Internationalization of Higher Education for making India a Global education hub. As per NEP availabilities of foreign higher Education institutes in India will give Indian students access to global education, promote research collaboration, provide international exposure and reduce the need for Indian students to travel abroad for higher education. NEP 2020 also inter-alia envisages curbing commercialization of education stating that multiple mechanisms with checks and balances will combat and stop the commercialization of higher education. In alignment with the vision of NEP 2020 for internationalization of Education, University Grants Commission (UGC) (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations 2023 issued by Government to facilitate the establishment of branch campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India. UGC has issued 14 Letters of Intent (LoIs) to 13 FHEIs from Australia, Italy, United Kingdom and USA to set up their campuses at various places in India including Bengaluru (Karnataka), Delhi NCR, Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu). Among these, University of Southampton, UK commenced its courses in August 2025 at its campus in Gurugram, Haryana. *****