Thiruvananthapuram: A national convention on the University Grants Commission (UGC) draft regulations, 2025, organized by the Kerala government, concluded with a strong call for federal fairness in higher education. Attended by ministers from three other non-BJP ruled southern states, the convention passed a 15-point resolution urging the withdrawal of regulations that diminish the role of state governments.
Inaugurating the event, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasized the need to safeguard democratic values in education. He expressed concerns that the new regulations would centralize control, sidelining states that fund and administer universities.
Opposition Leader V D Satheesan lauded the initiative, highlighting the need for the UGC to function within its constitutional mandate. Higher Education Minister R Bindu stressed that the proposed changes could compromise academic standards in state universities.
Ministers from Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu echoed these concerns, underscoring the importance of maintaining the federal structure in education. The convention concluded with a unified demand for the UGC to reconsider its approach, ensuring that states retain a meaningful role in shaping higher education policies.
