Punjab passes digital university bills amid Congress opposition protests

A state in India called Punjab has made new rules for three new universities that teach students only through computers, phones, and the internet.

These are called 'digital universities', and students can study from home without going to a classroom.

One university will be in Hoshiarpur, and two will be in Patiala.

The people who run these universities will pay for everything themselves — the government will not give them money.

The leaders of the state government say this is a great idea because it lets more people go to college.

But some other leaders from the Congress party are not happy about it.

They say the government is handing education to private companies, and that the universities will not be watched closely enough.

They also worry that subjects like medicine, engineering, and science need laboratory practice, which is hard to teach online.

The state education minister says the universities will still have to follow the national rules for online learning.

The plan still needs the permission of the Governor before it can become a law.