Many Countries Urging India To Open IIT Campuses: PM Modi

On July 29, 2023, on the occasion of the third anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam 2023. During his address at the event, Prime Minister Modi emphasized India's increasing significance as a "nursery of new possibilities." He highlighted how several countries have reached out to India for collaborations in setting up IIT campuses, and foreign universities have expressed keen interest in establishing campuses within India.

PM Modi proudly cited India's advancements in software and space technologies, asserting that competing with India's capabilities is a challenging task. He also expressed confidence in India's strategy of 'least cost' and 'highest quality' when it comes to defense technology, predicting its success.

The Prime Minister further noted that India's education system has earned tremendous respect worldwide, attributing it to the country's growing industrial repute and flourishing startup ecosystem. He highlighted that Indian institutes are increasingly gaining recognition in global rankings and unveiled plans to establish two IIT campuses in Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi. PM Modi mentioned that many other countries are also urging India to open IIT campuses within their territories.

In line with the favorable changes in the education ecosystem, Prime Minister Modi announced that two Australian institutions will set up campuses in Gujarat's GIFT City. Additionally, IIT Delhi revealed its intention to launch a new international campus in Abu Dhabi, UAE, by 2024, with an agreement already signed between the two governments.

In an interview with News18 earlier, IIT Delhi head Professor Rangan Banerjee had disclosed that the institute had been in discussions to establish the Abu Dhabi campus since the previous year. Meanwhile, IIT Madras has already made history by announcing the opening of its campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania, becoming the first worldwide IIT campus, set to begin operation in October of the current year.

Moreover, IIT Kharagpur is in the process of exploring options for establishing an international campus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, further cementing India's position as a global education hub.