Lok Sabha Question No. 431 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Foreign Universities Campus in India
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Dhal Singh Bisen, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No-431

ANSWERED ON- 05/02/2024

## FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES CAMPUS IN INDIA

## 431. DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

PROF. RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI:

DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD:

DR. DHAL SINGH BISEN:

SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  applications  from  Foreign  Universities  to establish campuses in India;

(b) if so, the details of the nature and scope of said applications received along with the names of universities and proposed locations for their campuses and the details of the standards  fixed  for  Indian  Students  to  receive  assured  affordable  and  high  quality education;

(c)  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  to  assess  the  said  applications  from  Foreign Universities  and  the  details  of  criteria  being  laid  for  such  foreign  universities  to  open campus in India;

(d)  the  steps  have  been  implemented  to  safeguard  against  the  'Private-Philanthropy partnership,' as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP-2020);

(e) whether the Government reconsidered NEP-2020 to enhance education accessibility for socially and economically disadvantage sections; and

(f) whether the Government handle concerns related to cultural integration and adaptation of  the  foreign  education  system  to  the  Indian  context  in  the  evaluation  of  these applications, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a)  to  (f):  In  the  Union  Budget  2022-23  it  was  announced  that  world-class  Foreign Universities and Institutions will be allowed in the Gujarat International Finance Tech-City (GIFT City) to offer courses in Financial Management, FinTech, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics  free from domestic regulations, except those by International  Financial  Services  Centres  Authority  (IFSCA).  Foreign  Universities  and Institutions  can  set  up  their  Branch  Campuses  in  GIFT  City  as  per  the  criteria  and standards  laid  down  in  the  IFSCA  (Setting  up  and  Operation  of  International  Branch Campuses and Offshore Education Centres) Regulations, 2022. Deakin University and University of Wollongong from Australia have received in principle approval from IFSCA to establish their campus in GIFT City.

Further, to facilitate the entry of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India for providing an international dimension to higher education, enabling Indian students to obtain foreign qualifications at affordable cost and making India an attractive global study destination, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified the UGC (Setting up and  Operation  of  Campuses  of  Foreign  Higher  Educational  Institutions  in  India) Regulations,  2023  dated  07.11.2023.  These  Regulations  specify  the  eligibility  and procedure  for  approval  for  the  FHEIs  intending  to  establish  campus  in  India.  These regulations inter-alia also stipulate that the FHEIs may provide full or partial merit-based or need-based scholarships and give tuition fee concessions to students who are Indian citizens. Safeguards against misappropriation of philanthropic resources, noncompliance with internal and external standards for philanthropic operations, have also been incorporated in these Regulations.  These regulations stipulate compliance with the provisions of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 for FHEIs to receive or utilize donations from any foreign sources.

These regulations are available at https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/Setting%20up%20and%20Operation%20of%20Campu ses%20of%20Foreign%20Higher%20Educational%20Institutions%20in%20India.pdf.

After the notification of these Regulations, the UGC has opened the portal for inviting applications for setting up campuses of FHEIs in India. An application has been received from Lincoln University College, Malaysia for setting up a Campus in Telangana.

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