Thu Feb 20 15:46:47 UTC 2025: ## Southern States Unite Against Controversial UGC Regulations

**Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala –** Four southern Indian states – Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana – have vehemently opposed the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations 2025, calling them an infringement on state autonomy and detrimental to academic standards. The states’ united opposition was voiced at a convention in Thiruvananthapuram on February 20, 2025.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who inaugurated the convention, warned that the regulations undermine India’s federal structure by reducing the role of state governments in higher education, particularly concerning the appointment of Vice-Chancellors. He criticized the allowance of non-academics in these appointments and the removal of the Academic Performance Indicator (API) system.

Echoing these concerns, Telangana’s Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka likened the situation to “paying the bill but not ordering the food,” highlighting the central government’s control over higher education funding while excluding states from decision-making processes. He also expressed worries about the impact of proposed common entrance exams and minimum enrollment criteria on marginalized students and colleges in underserved areas.

Karnataka’s Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar voiced concern over the imposition of foreign education models without considering India’s diverse context, and warned against excessive privatization that could limit access for students from economically weaker backgrounds. Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Minister Govi. Chezhiaan emphasized the unfairness of states bearing the financial burden of universities without a voice in the appointment process.

Kerala’s Higher Education Minister R. Bindu accused the UGC of overstepping its mandate and using its authority for ideological infiltration. The Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, V.D. Satheesan, similarly warned of centralisation of power and a compromise of academic excellence under the proposed regulations.

The united opposition from these states underscores a significant challenge to the new UGC regulations, raising questions about the future of higher education governance in India.

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