Establishment of a PIO/NRI University

In keeping with the recommendations made by the High Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora (HLCID) and commitments made at the highest level, the Ministry is in the process of setting up a PIO/NRI University for the benefit of children of Overseas Indians. The University is to be accorded the status of “Deemed University” de-novo under Section 3 of the UGC Act. The University would be set up by Manipal Academy of Higher Education Trust (MAHET), Manipal at Bangalore, Karnataka. An Advisory Board has been constituted to evaluate the DPR submitted by MAHET with a view to ensure that it conforms to the academic and infrastructure standards prescribed by the concerned authorities like the UGC, AICTE, MCI etc. The board held two meetings and has approved, in principle, the DPR submitted by the MAHET.

As per the policy framework approved by the Government, an advertisement calling for Expressions of Interest for setting up four more PIO/NRI Universities in different cities in India (other than Bangalore) was placed on important national newspapers in February, 2009.