In a significant move to challenge the recently released draft University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations regarding vice-chancellor and faculty recruitment, seven states have come together to attend the National Conclave of Higher Education Ministers. This conclave, organized by the Karnataka government in Bengaluru on February 5, aims to build consensus against the new rules. The event will feature representatives from Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to inaugurate the conclave.
The Karnataka Congress government initiated this event with the intention of uniting opposition-ruled states to address their concerns regarding the draft UGC regulations. Education is a subject under the concurrent list in India’s Constitution, which means both the state and central governments have a role in the higher education sector. Many opposition-ruled states are concerned that the new rules, if implemented, would undermine the role of state governments in university administration, despite the fact that these states are responsible for funding state universities. Karnataka’s Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar expressed optimism about the conclave, calling it a “good beginning,” but he also noted that some other states, including Delhi, Punjab, Mizoram, and West Bengal, had not responded to the invitation.
Sudhakar explained that Delhi could not attend due to its assembly elections being held on the same day, while Punjab, where AAP is in power, had not responded. Mizoram and West Bengal also chose not to participate. However, Sudhakar remained hopeful, stating that it was a positive step for states to come together on this important issue. He also pointed out that some regional parties in states allied with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could not openly express their opposition to the draft rules due to their political alliances. He mentioned that parties like the Janata Dal (United), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) had voiced concerns about the draft UGC guidelines but decided to raise the matter within their respective party forums.
The controversy stems from the release of the UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment & Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025, on January 6. These draft rules propose a shift in power towards the chancellor, typically the governor of the state appointed by the central government, including a more significant role in selecting vice-chancellors. The new rules also suggest reducing the number of people in the search committee for the selection of vice-chancellors, leaving out state government representatives, who were previously part of the panel.
The draft UGC guidelines, which are open for public feedback until February 6, have sparked criticism from opposition states and political parties. Sudhakar emphasized the importance of maintaining India’s federal structure and criticized the Centre for imposing its policies without proper consultation with the states. He called the central government’s approach “anti-constitutional,” as it disregarded the role of state governments in decision-making processes related to higher education. Sudhakar stated that decisions on the matter would be made after consolidating the opinions of all the state education ministers at the conclave.
The agenda of the conclave will include discussions on strategies to deal with the Centre’s stance if it refuses to review the proposed UGC rules. Sudhakar revealed that the states will pass a common resolution after deliberations and send it to the Union Education Minister and the UGC, urging them to reconsider the draft guidelines. The conclave thus represents a significant political move by opposition-ruled states to assert their authority in the domain of higher education and challenge central overreach. The outcome of this event could have far-reaching implications for the governance and autonomy of state-run universities across India.
