Tata Trusts plans 40-50 hospitals, pushes for more world-class universities in India

Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata on Sunday unveiled a new roadmap for India's largest philanthropic organisation, announcing plans to build 40-50 not-for-profit general hospitals across the country and expand its focus on creating world-class institutions in healthcare and education.

Speaking at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore's (IIM-B) flagship alumni leadership conclave, IIMBue 2026, Tata said the Trusts is moving beyond its traditional role of funding NGOs and development projects to building institutions that can serve generations, reviving a legacy that gave India institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and Tata Memorial Hospital.

As part of the new strategy, Tata Trusts plans to develop 40-50 affordable general hospitals after partnering with the Assam government to establish 17 cancer care hospitals in the state.


The proposed hospitals will operate on a cross-subsidy model, where patients opting for premium services will help subsidise treatment for economically weaker sections without compromising the quality of doctors, medicines or medical facilities, Tata said.

Education will be the second key pillar of Tata Trusts' next phase, he added.

Calling the proposed undergraduate institution being set up in partnership with IIM Bangalore an important beginning, Tata said India needs many more world-class educational institutions to meet rising demand.

He said thousands of talented Indian students continue to pursue higher education overseas every year because of the limited availability of quality institutions in India.

"There is no reason why India cannot build enough quality institutions so students can study in India instead of leaving simply because there are too few seats," Tata said.

The Tata Trusts chairman also called for reforms to encourage greater private investment in higher education, arguing that restrictions on for-profit educational institutions have discouraged private capital from entering the sector.

Highlighting the large number of Indian-origin faculty members teaching at leading global universities, including Harvard, he said India has no shortage of academic talent but needs stronger institutional infrastructure to attract and retain it.

Tata also stressed the need for greater accountability in philanthropy, saying social organisations should move beyond broad claims of impact and focus on measurable outcomes, according to a statement issued by IIM Bangalore.

(With inputs from PTI)