Parliament Question: Policy for foreign university campuses

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3705 ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026 Policy for foreign university campuses 3705 Shri Vivek K. Tankha: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) the policy rationale for permitting foreign universities to establish offshore or branch campuses in the country and the regulatory framework governing their approval, academic standards, faculty norms and student protection; (b) the details of budgetary and non-budgetary support, grants or incentives, if any, extended to such institutions, along with eligibility criteria and conditions; (c) the safeguards to ensure affordability, fee transparency, scholarships and equitable access for Indian students; and (d) the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure quality assurance, inclusion and alignment with national education priorities? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) to (d): In order to make India a global education hub and to provide access to global education, promote research collaboration, provide international exposure and to reduce the need for Indian students to travel abroad for higher education, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 of the Government of India promotes Internationalization of Higher Education, including permitting foreign universities to establish campuses in India. 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 the Government, facilitate the establishment of branch campuses of FHEIs in India. The regulation has put in a place a transparent and time-bound process under which the eligible FHEI, having secured a position in top 500 in overall category of global ranking, can apply on UGC portal. The applications are reviewed by a standing committee of UGC for appraisal and recommendation, based on which the UGC grants in-principle approval and issues a Letter of Intent to the FHEI. The FHEIs have been given the autonomy to recruit faculty and staff from India and abroad as per their recruitment norms and their curriculum approved by the standing committee. There is no budgetary support given to foreign institutions under the UGC regulations. Further, pursuant to the announcement made in the Union Budget 2022-23, IFSCA (Setting up and Operation of International Branch Campuses and Offshore Education Centres) Regulation,2022 was issued to permit foreign universities and institutions to establish International Branch Campuses (IBCs) in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in GIFT City to offer courses in Financial Management, FinTech, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Under the IFSCA Regulations, the proposals are evaluated by a ‘Committee of Experts’ comprising experienced academicians. The regulation stipulates that faculty selection plan and process followed by the IBCs shall be identical and similar to the process followed by the applicant IBC in its campus. Since, the IFSC is situated in GIFT Multi-Service SEZ established under SEZ Act, 2005, incentives available to SEZ Units are also available to IBCs of Foreign Universities. Both the regulatory frameworks stipulate following compliances by FHEIs/IBCs, to safeguard the interest of students, fee transparency, scholarships, quality assurance, inclusion and alignment with national education priorities etc: • The FHEI/IBC must ensure that education in the Indian branch campus is at par to that provided in the main campus in the country of origin including curricula, pedagogy, assessment and other aspects. • The qualifications awarded to the students in the Indian campus shall enjoy the same recognition and status as if they were awarded in its home jurisdiction. • FHEIs shall maintain transparency in admission procedures, eligibility criteria, and fee structures, which must be publicly disclosed. • FHEIs/IBCs may provide merit-based scholarships. • FHEIs may also give tuition fee concessions to students who are Indian citizens. • FHEIs/IBCs shall establish grievance redressal mechanisms for students and comply with regulations related to student welfare and dispute resolution. • IBCs/FHEIs to maintain adequate financial resources, including safeguards to protect students in case of closure or discontinuation of programmes. • In case an FHEIs/IBCs campus discontinues its operations, it shall ensure arrangements for students to let them complete their studies, either at another campus or through appropriate academic arrangements. • FHEIs/IBCs shall undergo a quality assurance audit and submit the report to the Commission. • As an oversight mechanism, UGC Regulations also stipulate that the Commission shall have the powers to visit the campus and examine its operations to ascertain the infrastructure, academic programs and overall quality and suitability. *****