Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly criticized the draft UGC Regulations 2025, alleging that the new guidelines diminish the state government’s role in higher education governance.
Expressing concern, Vijayan stated that the authority to appoint Vice Chancellors (VCs) has now been handed over to Chancellors, who are Governors appointed by the Centre. He argued that this move would sideline state governments and reduce their influence over public universities, which primarily function under state jurisdiction.
The Chief Minister emphasized that education is a concurrent subject in India’s Constitution, and any attempt to centralize control over universities would violate federal principles. He warned that such regulations could lead to political interference in university administration and weaken the autonomy of state-run institutions.
Vijayan also urged the academic community and opposition parties to oppose the draft regulations, calling for a unified stand against what he termed an attempt to erode state rights in education. The Kerala government is expected to take further steps, including possible legal action, to challenge the new UGC framework.
