Monday, August 21 2006 17:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The issue of allowing foreign universities in India will be debated in Parliament after government finalises the Foreign Universities Regulatory Vision, Rajya Sabha was informed today (Aug 21, 2006).

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, HRD Minister Arjun Singh said foreign universities till now were permitted to enter into agreement for research and development.

"We have not given any (foreign) university that kind of permission (allowing it in India)," Singh said adding the Foreign University Regulatory Vision would be brought before Parliament after being finalised.

In reply to a question, Singh, quoting the Universities Grants Commission, said there were 357 universities and equivalent institutions in India at present.

A University can be established either by an act of Parliament or a State Legislature, he said adding an institution for higher education, other than a university, may be declared as "deemed" to be University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.

There was no numerical restriction either on declaration of institutions as Deemed Universities or on establishment of Universities by the Legislature, the Minister added.

In reply to a query, Singh said it would not be practical to have a Central University in every state.