Experts proposed building the five university townships, announced in the 2026-27 budget, as satellite towns near existing cities. These townships should adopt a cluster model and include industry research and development facilities. A different student admission process was also recommended.
The Ministry of Education hosted a webinar on Monday, March 9 , to discuss these proposals. Other budget items, including hostels for girls in STEM programs and skilling initiatives, were also on the agenda.
University Townships: Key Recommendations
The webinar focused on the practicalities and infrastructure needs for the university townships. Arvind Panagariya, former Niti Aayog vice-chairman, stressed using limited funds for university construction. He advised treating each town as a satellite of a larger city to attract students and faculty.
Active state participation is essential for township development. Usha Padhee of Odisha’s housing and urban affairs department highlighted her state’s potential due to its business-friendly policies. BS Murthy, IIT Hyderabad director, advocated for industry R&D labs within townships, similar to Stanford’s model.
Murthy also questioned the current admission system. He suggested moving beyond entrance exams like JEE to models focused on building student capability. This aligns with IITs’ own exploration of alternative selection methods.
Seven locations were suggested for the university townships:
- Amravati and Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
- Gautam Budhhnagar, Uttar Pradesh
- Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Dholera, Gujarat
- Hubli, Karnataka
- Jagiraod, Assam
Women in STEM: Girls’ Hostels
The budget also included a plan for girls’ hostels in every district for STEM students. Participants discussed how these hostels could support women in research and innovation.
Sharmila Mary Joseph, principal secretary of higher education in Kerala, stated that state governments would collaborate with the central government. Hostels should connect researchers with universities and research parks. She emphasized the need for backward linkages to colleges and scholarships, and forward linkages to labs and research parks.
Ujwala Chakradeo, Vice-Chancellor of SNDT Women’s University, noted the need for safety features like emergency alarms. A formal process for students to voice concerns is also required.
Representatives from Sri Padmavati Mahila Vishwavidylayam and Bastar University shared state-specific challenges. V Uma mentioned high dropout rates for girls after Class 12 in Andhra Pradesh, advocating for cluster-model hostels. Manoj Kumar Srivastava noted distance as a barrier for women students in Chhattisgarh, requesting funds for hostel construction.
Education and Economy Link
Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the webinar, emphasizing stronger connections between education and the economy. He called for increased focus on artificial intelligence, automation, and the digital economy.
The Prime Minister expressed pride in the growing number of women in STEM. He stated that no daughter should be held back by a lack of opportunities. He also highlighted the promotion of the AVGC sector.
PM Modi urged academic institutions to become hubs for industry collaboration and research. This would provide students with essential real-world exposure. He called for campuses to transform into centers of research-driven learning.