New Delhi: The new guidelines under the draft University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations for 2025 provides chancellors or visitors the authority to constitute a three-member search-cum-selection committee to appoint vice-chancellors. Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin criticised the move calling it “authoritarian,” “direct assault on federalism” and “unconstitutional”.
On Monday (January 6), Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveiled the draft University Grants Commission (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025, introducing significant changes to the selection process for vice-chancellors and faculty appointments.
The search-cum-selection committee for vice-chancellor appointments will consist of three members: the chairperson, nominated by the visitor/chancellor, and two members representing the UGC chairman and the university’s apex body, such as the syndicate or senate, The Hindu reported.
The failure to comply with the guidelines of empowering chancellors or visitors to form a search-cum-selection committee for vice-chancellor appointments may lead to consequences, including potential disqualification from participating in UGC schemes or offering degree programmes, as per the draft regulation.
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Notably, governors are chancellors of several state-run universities. This move may potentially alter the dynamics of vice-chancellor appointments, particularly in Opposition-ruled states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala, where conflicts between governments and governors have arisen.
Stalin wrote on X, “The new UGC regulations granting governors broader control over VC appointments and allowing non-academics to hold these posts are a direct assault on federalism and state rights. This authoritarian move by the Union BJP government seeks to centralise power and undermine democratically elected state governments. Education must remain in the hands of those chosen by the people, not dictated by Governors acting at the BJP government’s behest.”
“Tamil Nadu, which leads the nation with the highest number of top-ranking HEIs [Higher Educational Institutions], will not stay silent as our institutions are stripped of autonomy. Education is a subject under the Concurrent List in our constitution, and hence we consider that the move of the UGC to issue this notification unilaterally as unconstitutional. This overreach is unacceptable, and Tamil Nadu will fight it legally and politically,” he added.
The new UGC regulations granting Governors broader control over VC appointments and allowing non-academics to hold these posts are a direct assault on federalism and state rights. This authoritarian move by the Union BJP government seeks to centralise power and undermine… https://t.co/yEivSL19uo
Advertisement— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) January 7, 2025
According to The Indian Express report, the draft regulations allow individuals from senior positions in industry, public policy, administration, or public sector undertakings to be eligible for university vice-chancellor roles, even if they are not professors.
In another key development, the UGC has introduced flexibility in faculty appointments, enabling individuals to qualify for positions based on their performance in the UGC-NET, regardless of their undergraduate and postgraduate disciplines. This change aims to foster a more multidisciplinary academic environment, as envisioned in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Other notable features of the draft regulations include:
- Emphasis on Indian languages: Encouraging publishing in Indian languages and recognsing academic qualifications in these languages.
- Relaxation of marks: Allowing a 5% relaxation in marks at undergraduate or postgraduate levels for candidates from Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Classes (OBC) (Non-creamy Layer)/EWS/Persons with Disabilities categories.
- Notable contributions: Considering innovative teaching, research, or teaching lab development, consultancy contributions or sponsored research funding as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator, as well as teaching in Indian languages, as notable contributions for assistant professor appointments.
The UGC has invited stakeholders and the public to provide comments on the draft regulations within 30 days. Once implemented, these regulations will apply to central, state, private, and deemed universities.
