Experts participating in the Ministry of Education’s post-Budget webinar on 09 March 2026 proposed seven potential locations across India for developing university townships. The discussion was part of deliberations on implementing key education initiatives announced in Union Budget 2026-27. The session highlighted the need to build integrated education hubs that connect universities, research centres, industry and residential facilities to strengthen India’s higher education ecosystem.
Proposed Locations for University Townships
During the webinar session moderated by academic and policy experts, participants recommended several cities across different states as potential sites for university townships. These areas were suggested because they are already major industrial or economic centres. The suggested locations include:
- Amravati, Andhra Pradesh
- Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
- Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
- Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Dholera, Gujarat
- Hubli, Karnataka
- Jagiroad, Assam
Experts noted that these cities have strong infrastructure or industrial ecosystems that could support large education clusters integrating universities, research labs and skill development centres.
University Township Model Proposed in Budget 2026
The concept of university townships was introduced in the Union Budget 2026-27, which proposed creating five such townships near major industrial and logistics corridors across India. These hubs aim to bring together universities, colleges, research institutions and skill centres in one ecosystem. Such clusters are expected to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry while also creating employment opportunities and improving research output.
Experts Call for Rethinking JEE-Based Admissions
During the discussion, some experts also raised concerns about relying solely on traditional entrance tests such as the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admission into new universities. They suggested that the government may need to explore alternative admission models that focus more on evaluating students’ skills, capabilities and research potential rather than only exam scores. Participants argued that the new university townships should aim to develop technology-focused and research-driven education ecosystems rather than continuing the conventional exam-centric approach.
Webinar Discussed Other Budget Education Initiatives
Apart from university townships, the webinar also examined other education proposals announced in the Budget. One major proposal includes establishing girls’ hostels for STEM students in every district to encourage greater participation of women in science and technology education. The event brought together policymakers, academic leaders, industry representatives and government officials to discuss implementation strategies for the education reforms outlined in the Budget.