𒁃Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution on Tuesday urging the central government to withdraw the controversial draft UGC (University Grants Commission) guidelines of 2025.
🍷The draft UGC guidelines, released in early January 2025, are designed to provide greater flexibility for universities in appointing and promoting teachers and academic staff. However, both Kerala and Tamil Nadu argue that the regulations infringe upon state authority and could lead to a centralisation of power in higher education, undermining the federal structure of the country.
𒁃Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution on Tuesday urging the central government to withdraw the controversial draft UGC (University Grants Commission) guidelines of 2025.
🌠“This House unanimously requests the central government to immediately withdraw the draft UGC norms of 2025, consider the opinions and concerns of the state governments and academic experts, and to issue new norms only after holding detailed discussions with all the stakeholders and taking their opinions seriously,” CM Vijayan said.
ꦦThe draft UGC guidelines, released in early January 2025, are designed to provide greater flexibility for universities in appointing and promoting teachers and academic staff. However, both Kerala and Tamil Nadu argue that the regulations infringe upon state authority and could lead to a centralisation of power in higher education, undermining the federal structure of the country.
While addressing the Assembly, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan ♛criticised the UGC’s move to set new standards without consulting state governments or other stakeholders. He emphasised that the power to establish and oversee universities lies with state governments, and the central government’s role should be limited to coordination and standard-setting.
♌“...Without holding discussions with all the stakeholders, the Centre issued the draft guidelines which completely exclude the opinions of the state governments, including on the appointment of Vice Chancellors, and therefore, they are "incompatible with the federal system and democracy,” Kerala CM said.
𝄹According to Vijayan, the draft guidelines failed to respect the constitutional framework of federalism and excluded crucial inputs from state governments on critical matters, including the appointment of Vice-Chancellors.
𒆙Vijayan argued that the provision allowing the appointment of individuals from the private sector as Vice-Chancellors, without giving priority to academic experts, was a move towards commercialising higher education. He voiced concern that these norms could erode democratic values in the educational system and potentially bring universities under the influence of ideological forces seeking to spread religious and communal ideas.
🗹The Kerala resolution echoes the sentiments expressed earlier by Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister M K Stalin, who had called for the withdrawal of the draft guidelines on January 9, 2025. Stalin had voiced similar concerns about the regulations’ adverse impact on state autonomy, the role of Vice-Chancellors, and the introduction of entrance exams for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions.
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin urged his counterparts to oppose the UGC 2025 draft
🎃On Monday, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to withdraw the said regulations.
𒊎“Several provisions in the draft UGC regulations were 'in conflict with the state’s educational system and policies,” CM Stalin claimed.
ไIn separate letters to his counterparts, the DMK leader urged other non-BJP-ruled states to join the opposition against the UGC draft by passing similar resolutions in their Assemblies.
ಌ“It is crucial that we stand united against these attempts to centralise power and undermine the federal structure of our country. I would appreciate if you could consider this request and take the necessary steps to pass a resolution in your Assemblies,” CM Stalin urged.
♐According to Stalin, the guidelines restrict the role of state governments in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors and certain administrative admission procedures, including the introduction of entrance exams for UG and PG courses in Universities.
꧋“Introducing entrance exams for admission to UG and PG courses was unnecessary and burdensome and they would exacerbate academic anxiety and financial stress, disproportionately harming socio-economically disadvantaged groups,” he emphasised. “Further, a single entrance exam for the entire country was impractical given the varying educational levels and systems in the country and it also undermined federalism by state autonomy.”
🦩The Tamil Nadu CM also raised alarm about the proposed Multiple Entry and Multiple Exit (MEME) system, suggesting that it could destabilise universities by complicating academic planning and resource allocation.
ꦡHe also warned against the proposal allowing students with a four-year undergraduate degree in non-engineering disciplines to pursue M.Tech. or M.E. courses, arguing that such a system lacked proper academic foundations for these advanced programs.