With the parliamentary standing committee debating private investment in education, as The Indian Express reported, and with the foreign university bill reportedly under the political scanner, there is, as usual, the possibility that the relevant details of opening up education may get lost in political rhetoric.

It is especially instructive to look at the bill to get an idea of official thinking. The bill was circulated among Rajya Sabha MPs in March, but has not yet been introduced. The long title of the Bill says that its purpose is “to provide for regulation of entry and operation, maintenance of quality and prevention of commercialisation of education by Foreign Educational Institutions imparting higher education in India...”

The issue of foreign universities operating in India could be seen from many positions. The liberal, modernist position is that India should open this sector to anyone willing to invest in it. There should be adequate disclosure requirements, and accreditation and benchmarking agencies. Over a period of time, the market (that is the students and their guardians) would be able to distinguish between the institutions and the quality of education and costs, and choose the one appropriate for them.

The position that contests the liberal viewpoint says India should be circumspect about the motives of private educational institutions, especially foreign ones. Most of them, this argument claims, are here either to profiteer or to influence us with their ideology, and the Indian citizen needs to be protected from these influences.

The Bill may not be a replica of the anti-liberal position but is close to it. It mandates that no foreign educational institution can function without being recognised as a deemed university by the University Grants Commission (UGC). They, however, do not need this approval if they operate in collaboration with recognised Indian institutions; presumably, the Indian institution will ensure the foreign university does not act dishonourably.

... contd.