NRI\PIO universities may come up in SEZs

Government may allow the new NRI\PIO universities, the bids for which were invited recently, to come up in Special Economic Zones.

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs which has invited Expression Of Interest (EOI) from academic institutions for setting up four universities for children of Non Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) has indicated in the guidelines issued as part of EOI that these universities may be set up in the Special Economic Zones.

"If the NRI\PIO universities are to be set up in the Special Economic Zone, the provisions under the SEZ Act would be adhered to", the guidelines said.

The EOI have been invited for setting up four universities in cities other than Bangalore as one NRI university for that city has already been sanctioned.

The EOI has said preference would given for those institutions which are already in possession of at leat 100 acres of land.

As per the guidelines, 50 per cent of the seats in these universities would be reserved for children of NRIs and PIOs and they will need to pay their fees in foreign currency while remaining 50 per cent would be given to resident Indians.

(source: The Hindu)