On Monday India’s cabinet has approved the “Foreign Educational Institutions Bill.” With this new approved legislation foreign universities will be able to open campuses in the country, paving the way for massive reform in the education system.  The bill was held up for more than four years due to opposition from the Left.

The law makers are expecting to put the bill before parliament shortly and could see famous universities such as Harvard, Yale and Oxford in India shortly. All three (Harvard, Yale and Oxford) have previously established tie-ups in India. Institutions such as Duke University, US, and Imperial College, London, have also shown interest in opening an India campus
Like other private universities in the country, the foreign universities — whether private or state-owned — won’t have to implement affirmative action-driven quotas for any category of students. There will also be no state-imposed restriction on the fees they charge. But, foreign education providers will not be allowed to repatriate any of the profits they earn.
According to Human Resource Development Ministry, “The bill will create a new category of educational institutions not shackled by Indian education regulators.” They also mentioned Govt. will established new audit systems to ensure these are not being run merely for profit.
For decades, the country’s brightest and most privileged students have headed abroad to complete their studies with many never returning home. By allowing foreign universities into India, the government hopes to stem the increasing number of Indian students going abroad for higher education. According to government figures, $2.247 billion worth of foreign exchange went out of the country as remittance towards tuition fees and other expenses by Indian student in 2008-09.

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