Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Monday that around 19 international universities are set to establish campuses in India during the current academic year.
Speaking at the Study in India Edu Diplomatic Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, Pradhan said Indian institutions are partnering with global entities in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, essential minerals, agriculture, and sustainable management.
He invited international students to pursue higher education in India and said the country is working to improve educational standards, enhance rankings, and create greater economic opportunities for youth.
He noted that 65 percent of India’s population is under the age of 35.
Pradhan said India aims to build a knowledge bridge across nations and cultures and is developing a framework for the Global South. He added that policy goals such as achieving a 50 percent Gross Enrolment Ratio by 2035 depend on both expansion and excellence.
In 2025, 12 overseas institutions received Letters of Intent to set up campuses in major Indian cities.
These include Victoria University in Delhi NCR, Western Sydney University in Greater Noida, University of Liverpool and La Trobe University in Bengaluru, and University of York, University of Aberdeen, University of Bristol, Istituto Europeo di Design, Illinois Institute of Technology, and University of Western Australia in Mumbai, with the University of Western Australia also receiving approval for Chennai.
The move is aimed at expanding capacity and quality in higher education without requiring students to study abroad.