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UGC clears 15 foreign universities to set up campuses in India

Saturday, 20 June 2026· 5 min read·Source: NDTV

India's University Grants Commission (UGC) foreign-university initiative has reached 15 global universities cleared to set up campuses in India, the Ministry of Education indicated around June 20, 2026. The move, framed under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to bring world-class education and research to India and reduce the need for students to study abroad. Among the institutions, the University of Bristol and the University of York are establishing campuses in Mumbai, while the University of New South Wales (UNSW) is setting up in Bengaluru (Manyata Business Park), with some operations planned from August 2026.

Key Facts & Details

8 points

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15 foreign universities have been cleared to set up campuses in India under the UGC initiative.
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The initiative operates under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
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University of Bristol and University of York are setting up in Mumbai.
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The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is setting up in Bengaluru (Manyata Business Park).
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Some campuses are planned to begin operations from August 2026.

Deep Dive

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The UGC framed regulations in 2023 allowing foreign higher-education institutions to operate in India.
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The aim is to internationalise Indian higher education and curb the outflow of students.
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Earlier approvals included the University of Southampton and University of Liverpool.

Exam Focus

How many foreign universities have been cleared to set up campuses in India under the UGC initiative as of June 2026?

Exam Relevance & Angle

Education-policy milestones tied to NEP 2020 — the number of foreign universities and host cities — are increasingly asked in GA sections, and the specific figure (15) plus named institutions make for clean MCQ facts.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POSSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is the statutory body that coordinates and maintains standards in Indian higher education. In 2023, the UGC notified regulations allowing Foreign Higher Education Institutions (FHEIs) to set up campuses in India, a key reform flowing from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which seeks to internationalise Indian higher education, improve quality and reduce the large outflow of Indian students studying abroad. Foreign campuses are permitted to design their own admission criteria and fee structures within the regulatory framework. The phased approvals — building from a handful of universities to fifteen — reflect growing interest from global institutions in India's large student market.