By team abhyaspeeth 
Special Correspondent
New Delhi : Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Parliament that the University Grants Commission (UGC) is in the process of evaluating proposals from more than 50 reputed foreign universities that have shown interest in setting up campuses in India. This move is part of a broader strategy to internationalize India’s higher education system and reduce the heavy outflow of students and resources to foreign countries.
Responding during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Pradhan revealed that, contrary to previous assumptions, three foreign universities are already operating in India. While he did not name them in the session, this marks a significant milestone in India’s effort to open its doors to global academic institutions.
According to the minister, over 14 to 15 lakh Indian students currently pursue higher education overseas, resulting in a massive annual outflow of capital, estimated to be in the range of billions of dollars. He emphasized that enabling high-quality foreign institutions to offer education within India would not only save this outflow but also enhance research capabilities and bring world-class learning opportunities closer to home.
To facilitate this, the UGC has already amended its regulations under the “Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India” framework, introduced in 2023. These reforms are designed to create a transparent and structured process for foreign universities to establish a presence in India, ensuring they meet the country’s academic and quality benchmarks.
Several universities from countries like the UK, Australia, Canada, and the US are currently in dialogue with state governments and higher education authorities. Many of these institutions have already applied for UGC approval, and the evaluation process is underway. Among the notable developments, Deakin University and University of Wollongong from Australia have already begun operations in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), while the University of Southampton (UK) is in the process of setting up its campus.
Education experts believe that allowing leading foreign universities to operate in India will create healthy competition, improve global exposure for Indian students, and potentially raise the overall standard of higher education in the country. It will also provide access to cutting-edge research, diverse curricula, and international faculty, making India an attractive education destination not just for its own citizens, but also for students from neighboring countries.
Minister Pradhan reiterated that all proposals from foreign institutions would be rigorously evaluated by the UGC based on academic quality, infrastructure, governance, and student support systems. “This move is in the best interest of students and aligns with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020,” he stated.
The UGC is expected to publish detailed guidelines and updates on approved institutions in the coming months. If the proposals are successfully implemented, India could soon witness a transformation in its higher education ecosystem — one where Indian students no longer have to travel thousands of miles for world-class degrees, and where India itself becomes a hub for global education.