New Delhi: The states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, led by opposition parties, are unhappy about new rules for hiring and promoting teachers in universities that were recently suggested by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), which runs the government in Kerala, says that the rules for choosing vice chancellors (VCs) are an attack on state powers. Kerala’s higher education minister, R. Bindu, called these rules an overreach by the central government, making states powerless in education matters.
In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced plans to legally challenge the governor’s authority over VC appointments.
The Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, shared the draft rules called ‘UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers) Regulations, 2025.’ These rules suggest that vice chancellor positions can now be held by non-academic experts and change the role of the chancellor in selecting VCs.
UGC officials say they want feedback on these new rules until February 5. UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar insisted that the guidelines bring more clarity and are aligned with global education trends.
Critics of the draft guidelines argue they give too much power to governors, who are seen as representing the central government, taking away the say of the states in school matters. The CPI(M) wants these rules withdrawn.
In Kerala, Bindu mentioned that if the guidelines are approved, it could lead to appointments of unqualified or biased VCs, severely affecting the quality of education. She said the state would express its opposition through formal letters and consider legal options.
In 2021, Kerala changed its laws to limit the governor’s power in appointing VCs due to conflicts over the governor’s decisions. This led to tensions in several states, including Tamil Nadu, where universities are currently without vice-chancellors.
The proposed changes open up VC positions not just for academics but also for industry leaders. While supporters say this could bring fresh leadership to universities, critics worry it may allow people with political connections instead of educational qualifications to take these important roles.
The new rules also suggest that having a National Eligibility Test (NET) score is not mandatory for some teaching positions, which has raised concerns about the quality of educators. Critics say this could harm the education system, allowing teachers without a postgraduate degree to teach university students.
Supporters of the changes argue that candidates with the right qualifications can still be valuable teachers, even if they don’t follow traditional paths.
Leave a Reply