**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the Indian government's efforts to promote India as a global education hub, responding to a parliamentary question. It details the regulatory framework established to allow foreign higher education institutions (FHEIs) to set up campuses in India. Key initiatives include the UGC and IFSCA regulations, which have led to Letters of Intent being issued and campuses already commencing operations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Regulatory Framework:**
* The Government issued two regulations: UGC Regulations 2023 and IFSCA Regulations 2022.
* **Foreign Institutions:**
* UGC issued 14 Letters of Intent (LoIs) to FHEIs from Australia, Italy, UK, and the USA to establish campuses in India.
* The University of Southampton (UK) Gurugram campus commenced operations in August 2025, offering courses like BSc Computer Science, BSc Business Management, and MSc Finance.
* Approvals granted to five universities from Australia and the UK to establish offshore branch campuses in GIFT City, Gandhinagar under IFSCA Regulations, 2022.
* Deakin University (Australia) commenced courses in July 2024, and the University of Wollongong (Australia) began operations in November 2024.
* **Other Initiatives:**
* 'Study in India' program and portal launched to attract international students.
* UGC Regulations 2022 enable Indian Institutions to collaborate with FHEIs for Twinning, Joint Degree and Dual Degree Programmes.
* Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) to encourage research collaboration.
* Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) in Higher Education launched to invite distinguished academicians and experts to teach in India.
* UGC has promulgated regulatory architecture/framework for Institutions of Eminence (IoE)
**Impact Analysis**
**Foreign Higher Education Institutions (FHEIs)**
* **Impact:** Can establish campuses and offer courses in India, expanding their global reach.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to the UGC and IFSCA regulations to set up and operate campuses in India.
**Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to collaborate with FHEIs for Twinning, Joint Degree, and Dual Degree Programs.
* **Action Required:** Explore collaborations with FHEIs to enhance educational offerings.
**International Students**
* **Impact:** Increased access to premium education at affordable costs in India.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the 'Study in India' portal for admission and visa applications.
**Indian Students**
* **Impact:** Benefit from high-quality education and collaborations, boosting the national standards of education.
* **Action Required:** Take advantage of greater opportunities for research and academic development.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: A national policy document that guides the development of education in India, aiming to promote India as a global study destination.
University Grants Commission (UGC): The primary regulator for higher education in India, which has issued regulations for setting up and operating campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India.
University Grants Commission (UGC) (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations 2023: Regulations issued by the UGC to facilitate the establishment and operation of foreign higher education institutions in India.
International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA): Authority responsible for regulating International Financial Services Centres, and which has issued regulations for setting up International Branch Campuses and Offshore Education Centres.
International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) (Setting up and Operation of International Branch Campuses and Offshore Education Centres) Regulations, 2022: Regulations issued by IFSCA regarding the setup and operation of international branch campuses and offshore education centres.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 315
ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
Scheme to make India a Global Hub for Education
†315. Shri Ramvir Singh Bidhuri:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to formulate any scheme to make India a global hub for
education, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether foreign institutions are being allowed to open campuses in India under the said
scheme, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the number of such campuses of foreign institutions proposed to be opened in the National
Capital Territory of Delhi along with the National Capital Region;
(d) the number of such campuses likely to become operational by the academic session of
2026-27; and
(e) the details of subjects likely to be taught at the said campuses along with their proposed
structure?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (e): As per the provisions of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, India is to be
promoted as a global study destination providing premium education at affordable costs. In line
with the vision of NEP 2020, two enabling regulations have been issued by the Government:
• University Grants Commission (UGC) (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of
Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations 2023, and
• International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) (Setting up and
Operation of International Branch Campuses and Offshore Education Centres)
Regulations, 2022.
University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued 14 Letters of Intent (LoIs) to Foreign
Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) from Australia, Italy, United Kingdom, and the
United States of America to establish campuses across India, including Bengaluru
(Karnataka), Delhi NCR, Mumbai (Maharashtra), and Chennai (Tamil Nadu).
University of Southampton (UK), Gurugram (Haryana) campus commenced operations in
August 2025 with courses such as BSc Computer Science, BSc Business Management, BSc
Accounting and Finance, BSc Economics, MSc Finance and MSc International
Management.Under the IFSCA Regulations, 2022, approvals have been granted to five universities from
Australia and the UK to establish offshore branch campuses in GIFT City, Gandhinagar,
Gujarat. Of these, Deakin University (Australia) commenced courses in July 2024, while
the University of Wollongong (Australia) began operations in November 2024.
Government of India has also undertaken several other initiatives to attract global students to
study in India, and also to ensure availability of high-quality education in the higher education
domain through infrastructure upgradation of the institutions, accreditation of institutions and
courses, promotion of research & innovation and augmenting the digital initiatives. Some of
the initiatives are:
• ‘Study in India’ program is a flagship initiative to promote Indian education and making
India as a preferred destination, with the overall objective to increase the number of
international students coming to study in India. Study in India (Sll) portal
https://studyinindia.gov.in has been launched on 3rd August. 2023, as a dedicated
website that showcases the best of Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) and is
a one stop solution for admission and visa applications for foreign students who wish
to pursue their higher education in Indian HEIs. The portal provides a structured
mechanism to facilitate foreign students to meet their Visa obligations. Regular
outreach programs, webinars and education fairs are organized under the ‘Study in
India’ programme to connect with potential students from various countries.
• UGC has issued Regulations in 2022 to enable Indian Institutions to collaborate with
Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) to offer Twinning, Joint Degree and
Dual Degree Programmes.
• Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) to
encourage research collaboration between top Indian Institutes with the premier foreign
institutes.
• Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) in Higher Education was launched on
30th November, 2015. The programme seeks to invite distinguished academicians,
entrepreneurs, scientists, experts from premier institutions from across the world, to
teach in the higher educational institutions in India.
• UGC has promulgated regulatory architecture/framework for institutions notified as
Institutions of Eminence (IoE) in the form of Guidelines for public institutions and
regulations for private institutions. The framework provides for autonomy in key areas
such as academic freedom, recruitment, fee structure, collaborations etc.
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