Foreign varsities bill to be back?

Despite vehement Opposition from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologues like Dina Nath Batra, the human resources development ministry is working to bring back one of UPA government’s legislation, the Foreign Universities Bill, which allows foreign varsities to open shop in the country.

Sources in the HRD ministry stated that the proposed bill is likely to draw heavily from the original legislation proposed during the UPA-2 regime. It is understood that top officials in the HRD ministry are soon likely to brief the PMO regarding the intricacies of the bill. The new Foreign Universities Bill is expected to be on the high priority list of the Modi government. Union HRD minister Smriti Irani is learnt to be keenly working to bring back one of UPA government’s favourite projects, mooted under the then HRD minister Kapil Sibal during UPA-2 regime. The Foreign Education Bill was part of UPA government’s proposal to revamp the entire higher education system.

The bill has been facing stiff Opposition from the Left, the RSS and some BJP MPs ever since, who had objected to foreign players entering the education market.

The earlier Bill had also faced Opposition as it was felt by a section of political leadership that it could spawn the growth of sub-standard private foreign universities in the country once the education sector was opened up.

After facing stiff opposition, the proposal was put on a back burner as it was sent for detailed study by the parliamentary committee on HRD. The proposal could not be revived as the UPA government did not have the requisite numbers to get it cleared in the Rajya Sabha.

Source | Asian Age | 12 June 2015