Six states adopt joint resolution seeking withdrawal of draft UGC regulations 2025

ANI February 6, 2025 358 views

A group of six states have jointly raised significant concerns about the draft UGC regulations for 2025, highlighting potential infringements on state autonomy in higher education. The resolution challenges multiple aspects of the proposed guidelines, including Vice Chancellor appointments, academic performance evaluations, and mandatory implementation of National Education Policy provisions. State ministers argue that the regulations are overly centralized and do not respect the federal framework of educational governance. They are calling for a more collaborative and consultative approach in developing these important educational guidelines.

"Imposing all the proposals in the NEP as mandatory and taking punitive measures for non-compliance are really dictatorial" - State Higher Education Ministers
Bengaluru February 6: Six States have adopted a joint resolution seeking the withdrawal of draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025.

Key Points

1

Six states reject draft UGC regulations impacting university autonomy

2

Resolution challenges Vice Chancellor appointment procedures

3

States demand more collaborative policy-making process

4

Concerns raised about academic evaluation and institutional standards

Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka adopted the 15-point resolution at the conclave of State Higher Education Ministers-2025 in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

The States said that the draft UGC regulations do not envisage any role for the State Governments in appointment of the Vice Chancellors of Public Universities established under State Acts and thus impinge on the legitimate rights of the State in a federal set up. The resolution demanded that the State Governments must be given a pivotal role in appointment of Vice Chancellors to State Public Universities.

The resolution says that the regulations severely curtail the rights of the States in constituting the search-cum- selection committees for selection of Vice Chancellors.

The provision relating to appointing non-academics to be appointed as Vice-Chancellors requires to be withdrawn, said the States.

The resolution said that the qualifications, term and eligibility for appointment of Vice Chancellors require a serious re-consideration as they impinge upon the standards of higher education.

The removal of the Academic Performance Indicator (API) system of evaluation and introduction of the new system allowed a high-level of discretion and must be re-evaluated. Several provisions related to appointment of Assistant Professors required a serious re- consideration including the provisions related to non-requirement of basic degree in the core subject concerned, said the resolution.

The States sought more clarity on the provisions related to contractual appointments, guest faculty/visiting faculty/professor of practice/ emeritus professor before finalisation of the guidelines.

They said that the provisions related to consequences of violations of the draft UGC regulations are drastic, excessive, undemocratic and require serious reconsideration.

Imposing all the proposals in the NEP as mandatory and taking punitive measures for non-compliance are really dictatorial and are against the spirit of autonomy of the States in a federal framework, said the States.

More emphasis in regulations is required on industry academia collaboration to enhance innovation and research eco system in public universities. The draft regulations and grading parameters are designed to promote private institutions, ignoring the welfare aspect of government/public institutions, said the resolution.

The States said that making an entrance exam mandatory for basic undergraduate courses is a huge barrier to increasing GER and providing inclusive education.

Promotions, biannual examinations, fast-track degree programmes, dual degrees, multiple entry and exit, etc., requires further deliberations and clarity before implementation. The UGC must engage in a collaborative, consultative process with the States in framing these regulations in the spirit of cooperative federalism, said the resolution.

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Tags:
UGC Regulations Higher Education State Governments Academic Appointments University Governance NEP 2020
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