‘Governors resorting to political appointments of vice-chancellors’: 6 states move joint resolution seeking withdrawal of draft UGC guidelines 2025

15-point resolution

Of each the regulations, the authorities governments person mostly expressed concerns implicit the assignment of vice-chancellors, wherein they alleged that UGC has centralised the process, leaving nary accidental for the states to weigh-in during the assignment process. Additionally, they person besides opposed the connection of allowing individuals from the backstage assemblage to beryllium appointed arsenic vice-chancellors.

The removal of the Academic Performance Indicator (API) strategy was besides criticised, claiming that the caller valuation strategy grants excessively overmuch discretion. Further concerns were raised astir the eligibility criteria for adjunct professors, peculiarly the provisions that let for the assignment of module members without a basal grade successful the halfway subject.

The conclave sought greater clarity connected the recruitment and work conditions of contractual, visiting, and impermanent faculty. The punitive measures successful the draught regulations were deemed excessive and undemocratic, peculiarly the provisions making NEP 2020 implementation mandatory and penalising institutions for non-compliance. The ministers argued that these measures interruption the autonomy of states.

The conclave besides highlighted the ‘bias’ toward backstage institutions successful the draught regulations, expressing concerns that authorities universities would beryllium neglected. The connection to marque entranceway exams mandatory for undergraduate admissions was powerfully opposed, arsenic it could bounds entree to higher acquisition and trim the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER). The grading criteria for institutions, the instauration of biannual exams, dual degrees, aggregate introduction and exit options, and the propulsion for fast-track degrees were each flagged arsenic areas requiring further consultation.

‘Political appointments of vice-chancellors’

Dr MC Sudhakar, Minister Of Higher Education, Karnataka said, “UGC does not explicitly mandate that the chancellor of a assemblage indispensable beryllium the governor; rather, it has go a normal successful each states. Over time, the relation of governors successful assemblage medication has evolved, starring to assorted challenges, including during the Congress regime. Recently, concerns implicit governors’ functioning person go questionable, extending beyond administrative matters to governmental appointments of vice-chancellors. Previously, portion specified appointments existed, determination was ne'er specified a strained narration betwixt governors and authorities governments arsenic we spot today. The concern has changed dramatically, with incidents similar governors walking retired of assemblies, which were unheard of before.”

‘Uphold principles of cooperative federalism’

Shridhar Babu, Minister for IT and Industry, Telangana, said, “The draught UGC regulations indispensable beryllium instantly withdrawn to uphold the principles of cooperative federalism. Education is simply a important domain wherever states indispensable person the autonomy and state to marque decisions that champion service their institutions and students. Any effort to centralise power undermines the tone of federalism and restricts the quality of authorities governments to signifier their ain higher acquisition policies.”

‘Education linked to section needs of states’

Govi Chezhian, Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister, said, “Education is intrinsically linked to the culture, language, and section needs of each state, making it indispensable that authorities governments clasp power implicit cardinal decisions. While states supply land, infrastructure, and resources to universities and students, the draught UGC regulations contradict them immoderate relation successful appointing vice-chancellors, which is simply a cardinal overreach. This exclusion not lone disregards the state’s concern successful acquisition but besides weakens the accountability and effectiveness of higher acquisition governance.”

‘Regulations are unconstitutional’

Rohit Thakur, Himachal Pradesh Higher Education Minister, said, “The projected regulations are unconstitutional and magnitude to an battle connected the national operation of India. By limiting the relation of states successful higher acquisition governance, these guidelines interruption the principles of federalism enshrined successful the Constitution. States indispensable person the authorization to negociate their ain universities and appointments without undue interference from the Centre.”

What has UGC argued?

UGC Chairman Prof Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar told The Indian Express, “The Draft UGC Regulations 2025 aims to guarantee the highest standards successful universities by introducing a much inclusive and transparent enactment process. The projected draught regulations question to uphold the autonomy and accountability of higher acquisition institutions. The superior nonsubjective is to heighten the prime of education, beforehand probe innovation, align assemblage governance with planetary champion practices, and fulfil the transformative imaginativeness of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. We invited constructive feedback and enactment collaboratively to fortify our country’s higher acquisition system.”