Smriti may bring back foreign varsity bill

A contentious bill seeking to allow entry of foreign universities to India may be back on Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Zubin Irani’s agenda.

Sources said Smriti has shown her interest in the proposed legislation, which now stands lapsed with the change in regime at the Centre.  

“The exact modalities of the new bill will be finalised in terms of its contents and scope. As of now, it is in very pre-mature stage,” sources added.

The contentious bill was introduced by the United Progressive Alliance government in Lok Sabha in 2010 but it could not be passed due lack of consensus among various political parties. 

The legislation faced stiff opposition from various quarters including private institutions too. The Left parties opposed it mainly on the ground that the legislation would lead to entry of substandard foreign varsities.

Since the previous bill stands lapsed, the ministry will now have to redraft the legislation and get it cleared from the Cabinet before it is introduced in Parliament for its passage “All the stakeholders will be consulted afresh to understand their views. The Ministry will try to evolve consensus among all the stakeholders to ensure smooth passage of the legislation in Parliament,” sources said.