Higher Education Minister R. Bindu speaking at a discussion on draft UGC regulations of 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
A State-level discussion held on the draft UGC regulations of 2025 on Tuesday saw strong objections to the proposed regulations. Many participants asserted that the proposed regulations violate the federal principles enshrined in the Constitution.
In her inaugural address, Higher Education Minister R. Bindu cautioned that the regulations would undermine the constitutional rights of States, particularly in the governance of higher education institutions, including universities. She expressed concerns that the proposals would erode State authority over critical matters, such as the appointment of Vice-Chancellors.
She also warned of the risks of appointing individuals based on political loyalty, suggesting that such a move could compromise the academic integrity and autonomy of universities.
Dr. Bindu was also critical of the inclusion of Indian Knowledge Systems into the higher education framework, arguing that such steps could lead to the uncritical acceptance of outdated ideas, perpetuate inequalities and foster cultural biases without empirical validation.
Academics say
K.N. Ganesh, chairperson of the Kerala Council for Historical Research, questioned the constitutional validity of the UGC regulations, particularly given the absence of legislative backing. He argued that the draft regulations would render State legislation ineffective and encroach upon the authority of State legislatures.
The academic called for measures to empower the academic community, rather than facilitating the bureaucratisation and centralisation of powers in the higher education sector.
In a critical note, Professor Ganesh also expressed disappointment over universities’ meek surrender to “threats” such as withholding funding for non-compliance with Central directives, which he felt undermined the autonomy of academic institutions.
Kerala State Planning Board member Jiju P. Alex also raised concerns over the Union government’s declining investment in education and research. He criticised attempts to introduce unscientific notions under the guise of “decolonising” the education system, which he believed would hinder the growth of evidence-based academic practices.
Vani Kesari, director of the Prof. N.R. Madhava Menon Interdisciplinary Centre for Research Ethics and Protocols at CUSAT, who was part of the committee led by economist Prabhat Patnaik to review the legality of the draft regulations, raised concerns about provisions that failed to recognise the time spent by teachers in acquiring their PhD or MPhil degrees as teaching or research experience. She opined that this would hinder researchers from fully dedicating themselves to academic pursuits.
She also questioned the proposal to allow higher education institutions to hire professionals from industries as ‘Professors of Practice’.
The State Level Quality Assurance Cell (SLQAC), Kerala, and Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, jointly organised the event. The Higher Education department will compile a detailed report based on the feedback gathered to be submitted to the UGC.
Published – March 11, 2025 07:41 pm IST
