Centre readies law to regulate foreign educational institutes

The Foreign Education Institution Bill, which comes up for Cabinet approval on Thursday, will regulate the entry, operation and quality of the FEIs while preventing the commercialisation of such high-priced education systems.

The act would make it mandatory for the FEIs to get registered under the University Grants Commission Act with a Registrar of Foreign Education Providers to be created for overseeing that they adhere to the UGC Act in terms of fee fixation, admissions including reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes.

The FEIs would be given the status of deemed universities allowing them to grant admission and award degrees, diplomas or certificates. The UGC will determine the tenure for which the FEI will be allowed to operate with a provision for renewal.

The law would be applicable to FEIs that are established or incorporated outside India or are operating independently or in collaboration with an Indian partner, said sources.