Budget 2026: Foreign universities get a springboard to execute their India ambition
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The budget proposal to set up five new university townships near major industrial corridors could be the golden ticket for foreign institutions looking to establish campuses in India. Yet, according to sector experts, more clarity is needed on land and other approvals.
The government will support states in creating these university townships, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her budget speech on Sunday, adding that these academic zones will host multiple universities, colleges, research institutions, skill centres and residential complexes. The plan could benefit foreign universities seeking a low-risk opportunity to enter the Indian market, according to Suchindra Kumar, partner and leader of education at consulting firm PwC India. “Some foreign universities are wary of the heavy capital expenditures.
These townships will provide the infrastructure for the universities to set up on a ‘plug and play’ model like Gift City, attracting more of them to enter the Indian market." India’s plan marks an effort to stem the exodus of Indian students eyeing foreign education. The number of Indians studying abroad has more than doubled from 6.85 lakh in 2016 to over 18 lakh by 2025, making it the largest source of international students, according to the Economic Survey for 2026-27. Indian learners focus on countries such as Canada, the USA, the UK, and Australia because of their perceived education quality, work rights, migration pathways, and strong branding.
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