Kerala Assembly passes resolution against UGC draft guidelines 2025

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution calling on the central government to withdraw the draft UGC (University Grants Commission) guidelines for 2025 and issue a revised version after consulting state governments and academic experts.

The resolution was introduced by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who expressed concerns that the draft UGC guidelines were incompatible with the spirit of the Constitution. The CM emphasised that universities in various states operate based on laws passed by their respective state legislatures, which have the power to establish and supervise universities. “The central government’s role is limited to coordinating and setting standards for higher education institutions,” said the CM. He criticised the guidelines for excluding state governments from discussions, particularly on matters like the appointment of Vice Chancellors.

Concerns over centralisation, commercialisation

The CM argued that the guidelines overlooked the federal structure of India and excluded valuable input from state governments. He also took issue with the provision allowing individuals from the private sector to be appointed as Vice Chancellors, instead of academic experts, calling it a move to commercialise higher education. “The draft norms are part of an effort to undermine democratic values in higher education and bring it under the control of those spreading religious and communal ideas,” the CM claimed.

The Kerala Assembly unanimously called for the immediate withdrawal of the draft UGC norms. It demanded that the central government consult with state governments and academic professionals to address their concerns and issue new guidelines after holding thorough discussions with all stakeholders.

CM plans to collaborate with non-BJP chief ministers

Last week, Chief Minister Vijayan also criticised the new UGC guidelines and vowed to work with other non-BJP chief ministers to oppose them. The draft UGC regulations were introduced by the Union Education Ministry in early January 2025 and aim to provide universities with more flexibility in appointing and promoting teachers and academic staff.

The Union Education Ministry has stated that the draft UGC guidelines aim to offer universities greater flexibility in staffing and maintaining standards within higher education institutions. However, the guidelines have faced significant opposition from various state governments, including Kerala.

Agency