Delhi government drafts bill to reserve quarter of private university seats for locals

The Delhi cabinet gave its nod to a draft legislation that creates a statutory framework for private universities in the city for the first time. The bill mandates that 25% of seats in every private university program be reserved for Delhi residents, with admissions conducted according to the capital's current quota policy. It also provides merit-cum-means scholarships for a quarter of Delhi students, offering full fee exemption to 5%, a 50% waiver to 10%, and a 25% concession to the remainder.

Private universities must adhere to University Grants Commission standards, operate on a single-campus unitary model, and cannot affiliate external colleges. The higher education minister will serve as visitor, empowered to request information, order inspections, and issue directives, while a government representative will be part of each university's board of management. The draft calls for compliance with multiple regulators, including AICTE, NMC, BCI, NCTE, PCI and ICAR, and limits foreign collaborations to UGC-approved arrangements.