In a strong show of defiance against the Union government, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana have united to challenge the Draft UGC Regulations, 2025, calling them a threat to state autonomy in higher education.
At a high-stakes National Convention in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on 20 February, the four states unanimously passed a 15-point resolution rejecting the proposed norms.
Stepping up their resistance, the states have now set their sights on Hyderabad for another conclave – the third such coordinated effort after earlier meeting in Karnataka.
Raising the stakes further, they also plan to send a delegation to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to voice their concerns.
Sources indicate that the states have decided in principle to launch a joint legal challenge against the draft regulations.
However, despite the Kerala government hailing the convention as a success, the absence of most vice-chancellors from state universities cast a shadow over the proceedings.
Participants at the national convention. Photo: South First.
States demand greater say in higher education
The National Convention on Draft UGC Regulations, 2025, organised by the Kerala Higher Education Department, highlighted concerns over the regulations’ detrimental impact on the federal structure and the autonomy of state universities.
Participants unanimously urged the UGC to withdraw the proposed regulations.
A key concern was the UGC’s increased authority over state universities, sidelining state governments despite their role as primary investors.
The convention demanded greater state control over administrative matters, including the appointment of vice-chancellors.
The resolution condemned the move to allow non-academics or individuals from industrial backgrounds to hold the position of vice-chancellor, warning that it would commercialise higher education.
Criticising the introduction of “notable contributions” as a selection criterion for faculty, the convention argued it would encourage favouritism and corruption. It also rejected the attempt to override state-specific recruitment processes and constitutional bodies like public service commissions. Participants warned that the UGC’s excessive control over universities’ academic content violated legislative mandates.
Concerns were raised over the lack of clarity on contractual and guest faculty appointments, with calls for greater flexibility in emergency hiring. The inclusion of punitive measures for non-compliance was deemed undemocratic, with demands for a more collaborative approach.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan during the convention. Photo: South First
The convention also opposed mandatory entrance exams for undergraduate courses, stating they would hinder Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) growth. While supporting stronger industry-academia collaboration, participants condemned the blanket imposition of NEP policies.
The resolution urged the UGC to reconsider its stance, emphasising that federal principles must be upheld to safeguard the quality and autonomy of higher education in India.
Kerala: ‘Draft regulations an attack on federalism’
Inaugurating the convention, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly criticised the Draft UGC Regulations, 2025, stating that they infringe upon the powers of state governments and undermine the federal structure. He said the regulations pose a serious threat to the autonomy of state universities.
The chief minister pointed out that the draft regulations strip state governments of their authority to appoint vice-chancellors to public universities. He argued that vesting this power solely with the chancellor—who is usually the governor—would lead to politically motivated appointments.
Vijayan accused the Union government of using governors as political tools to interfere in state university administration. He cited Kerala’s own experience, where bills passed by the Assembly to curb such interference were indefinitely delayed.
Higher education minister R. Bindu echoed these concerns, stating that the draft regulations not only encroach upon the rights of states but also subvert the democratic functioning of universities.
She stressed that the UGC’s role should be to set academic standards in consultation with universities, not dictate governance.
The convention called for collective resistance against the draft regulations, urging the Centre to engage in meaningful discussions with states before finalising them.
Meanwhile, except for the vice-chancellor of Malayalam University, all other vice-chancellors in Kerala abstained from the convention held to oppose the UGC’s draft proposal.
Their absence, it is said, follows Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s stance that the higher education department’s circular mandating participation was illegal.
Higher education minister R. Bindu criticised the vice-chancellors for staying away, stating that those with a sense of propriety and democratic values should have attended.
Telangana deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu. Photo: South First.
Telangana’s call for collective action
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu underscored the urgency of state autonomy in ensuring quality education. “Every state understands that without autonomy, quality education remains a distant dream,” he declared.
Urging stronger collective action, he announced that Hyderabad would host the next conclave on the issue, with an even larger gathering of chief ministers, ministers, and MPs.
“When we speak with one voice, it resonates across the nation,” he emphasised. “The Centre must listen.”
Karnataka: ‘UGC must integrate industry, not impose control’
Karnataka’s Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar credited Kerala for spearheading the resistance against the UGC draft regulations and taking the debate to the national stage.
“The UGC should have prioritised integrating the industrial sector with educational institutions instead of meddling with states’ rights,” he said, highlighting challenges in implementing the dual-degree programme.
Sudhakar clarified that while the states were not outrightly rejecting the regulations, certain provisions posed a serious threat to cooperative federalism. “Some proposals are acceptable, but others require thorough review. We demand meaningful consultations with states to ensure our interests are safeguarded.”
Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhian. Photo: South First.
Tamil Nadu: Resistance against language imposition
Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhian accused the Centre of using the new education policy as a tool to impose Hindi and Sanskrit.
“We have followed the two-language policy in Tamil Nadu for over 50 years, and we will not allow any backdoor imposition of languages that do not align with our educational framework,” he asserted.
At the same time, Professor Prabhat Patnaik, who led a five-member committee reviewing the draft UGC regulations, flagged three major breaches by the commission, calling them a serious overreach.
“The UGC is meant to function in consultation with universities, but in this case, it didn’t even bother. It is supposed to focus solely on academic matters, yet it is now dictating the appointment of vice-chancellors. And to top it off, it has threatened punitive action against universities that refuse to comply with its regulations. This is a blatant overstep,” said Patnaik.
Officials said the National Convention in Thiruvananthapuram has reinforced the growing opposition among southern states against the Draft UGC Regulations, 2025, with Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana presenting a united front to safeguard state autonomy in higher education.
Their collective resistance signals a broader struggle over federalism and the rights of states to govern their universities.
As the movement gains momentum, the planned conclave in Hyderabad and the delegation to New Delhi indicate that the states are prepared to escalate their opposition both politically and legally.
This article first appeared on South First and has been republished with permission.