CIPU - Confederation of Indian Private Universities | India's Apex Higher Education Body | Confederation of Indian Private Universities

Join the Voice of Progressive Higher Education in India

Bharat Higher Education Summit 2025.

The 3rd Bharat Higher Education Summit (3rd BHES) 2026 was inaugurated by distinguished dignitaries Prof. (Dr.) Raviraja Seetharam, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Dr. Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Dr. Rahul V. Karad, Dr. Gopal Pathak, and Mr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, marking the beginning of insightful deliberations on the future of higher education in India.

The Inaugural Session featured Prof. (Dr.) Raviraja Seetharam, Mr. Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Shri. Anurag Singh Thakur, Dr. Rahul V. Karad, and Mr. R. Karthik, marking a memorable beginning with the felicitation of the Chief Guest and visionary addresses on the future of higher education.

Chief Guest Address was delivered by Shri. Anurag Singh Thakur, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha & Chairman, Parliament Standing Committee on Coal, Mines & Steel & Former Union Minister for I&B & Youth Affairs & Sports.

3rd Bharat Higher Education Summit 2026.

Dr. Rahul V. Karad delivered the Presidential Address at the 3rd Bharat Higher Education Summit 2026, sharing his visionary thoughts on the future of higher education, innovation, and nation-building.

An inspiring Chief Guest Address by Shri. Anurag Singh Thakur, emphasizing innovation, excellence, and the future of higher education.

The first CIPU Award for excellence in industry-academia engagement was presented to M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru.

CIPU signed an MoU with International Automobile Centre of Excellence, Gandhinagar, Gujarat for faculty and student capacity development initiatives.

An MoU was signed with Bennett University-Times Group for a first of its kind 'Academy of Entrepreneurial Teaching and Transformative Learning'.

The National Roundtable brought together distinguished women leaders from academia, research and university leadership to discuss strengthening women's participation and leadership in higher education.

CIPU CSR for Higher Education Forum was launched.

CIPU organized a roundtable session between the academic leaders and CSR heads of leading companies at Amity University, Gurugram, in partnership with India CSR and NHRD.

CIPU's 2nd Bharat Higher Education Summit was held on 23rd December 2025 at SGT University, Gurugram with the theme, 'Building Research-Driven Universities'.

Dr. Suresh Garimella, President, University of Arizona, was the Guest of Honour for the Inaugural Session of 2nd Bharat Higher Education Summit.

A section of the audience from CIPU's 2nd Bharat Higher Education Summit.

CIPU signed an MoU with the University of Arizona to foster academic and research collaborations with leading Indian private universities. The MoU was formally exchanged in Bengaluru by Mr. R. Karthik, Director General, CIPU, and Dr. Caleb Simmons, Vice Provost, University of Arizona.

Academic Leaders from Assam and North-East in discussion during the CIPU roundtable on 'Reimagining University Administration in the Age of Digital Transformation' at Assam down town University, Guwahati held on 13th November 2025.

Academic leaders from across India at the Inaugural Session of the Bharat Higher Education Summit 2025, 23 and 24 April 2025, Mahindra University, Hyderabad.

CIPU India-USA Higher Education Dialogue, 9th November 2024, Orlando, Florida, USA

About Us

The Confederation of Indian Private Universities (CIPU) is a mission-driven, not-for-profit organisation established to champion the voice, visibility, and vitality of India's Private Universities.

CIPU envisions positioning India as the knowledge capital of the world, reigniting its civilizational role as a Vishwa Guru in the 21st century.

Through sustained engagement with government, academia, industry, and international associations, CIPU advocates for enabling policies, fosters institutional collaboration, and promotes the internationalization of Indian higher education.

View Brochure

CIPU Brochure - Confederation of Indian Private Universities

Strategic Focus Areas

Internationalisation of Indian Private Universities
Promotion of Research & Innovation Ecosystem
Industry – Academia Collaboration
Ethical & Transparent University Governance
Academic Leadership Development
Sustainable Development

Indian Universities Landscape

Central Universities

522

State Universities

147

Deemed to be Universities

543

State Private Universities

995

Autonomous Colleges

Testimonials

“

CIPU has rapidly emerged as a credible and influential platform in India’s higher education landscape, bringing together academia, industry, and policymakers with clarity of purpose. Its focus on quality, governance, and global engagement is both timely and necessary. I believe CIPU will play a significant role in shaping the future of private higher education in India and advancing the country’s aspirations as a global knowledge hub.

Prof. (Dr.) D. P. Agrawal

Distinguished Member CIPU Board of Advisors & Former Chairman, UPSC, Delhi

“

The initiative of CIPU will bring member universities new ways of thinking, communication skills and experiential learning for students and faculty. The discussions among members will result in best practices in Governance leading to quality higher education.

Dr. Ashok Joshi

President, Higher Education Foundation, USA

“

Indian private universities must collaborate to learn and build together a transformative higher education ecosystem as per the aspirations of the new National Education Policy (NEP 2020). I'm confident that the CIPU would be instrumental in driving the desired collaboration and facilitating evidence based higher education reform interventions in context of private universities

Prof. Dr. Shiv Tripathi

Convenor, CIPU National Committee on Sustainability & Dean of the Faculty at Berlin School of Business and Innovation

“

As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, our universities play a pivotal role in shaping the future leaders, thinkers, and change-makers of our nation. Together, we must redefine education as a lifelong journey of enlightenment and empowerment.

Mr. Satya S. Tripathi

Chancellor, Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences

“

I want to congratulate Dr. Rahul V. Karad for bringing together Indian Private Universities to address common issues and create an excellent platform for them. I have had opportunities to interact with the group from the very beginning and I am really happy to see how much CIPU has achieved in a very short time. I am confident that CIPU will continue to play a major role in Indian higher education.

Prof. (Dr.) Satish K. Tripathi

President, University at Buffalo, US

“

As the Indian higher education ecosystem has evolved rapidly over the last few decades, the Confederation of Indian Private Universities (CIPU) has played a role in shaping its future. By bringing together private universities, CIPU has created a platform for these institutions to articulate their value & contributions to the Indian economy & society. Similar to the Association of American Universities (AAU) in the U.S., CIPU serves as a collective voice for private universities, facilitating dialogue with the government & promoting collaboration among its members. CIPU's efforts have been instrumental in organizing the private university sector, enabling them to better represent their interests & showcase their achievements. By doing so, CIPU has helped create value for its member institutions, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of higher education in India. As a testament to its importance, I am honored to support CIPU's mission & look forward to its continued impact on the academic landscape in India.