The University Grants Commission (UGC) has extended the deadline for submitting feedback on the Draft UGC Regulations, 2025, to February 28. The proposed regulations outline the minimum qualifications for appointing and promoting teachers and academic staff in universities and colleges while aiming to maintain educational standards.
Originally released on January 6, the draft sought input from stakeholders with a feedback deadline of February 5. However, following multiple requests, UGC Secretary Manish R Joshi announced the extension through an official notice. “Stakeholders can submit feedback on the draft regulations till February 28, 2025,” the statement read.
The extension comes in the wake of mounting criticism from state governments. Six states — Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka — adopted a joint resolution on Wednesday during the State Higher Education Ministers’ Conclave in Bengaluru, calling for the withdrawal of the draft regulations.
The resolution highlighted concerns over the UGC’s provisions that allegedly disregard the role of state governments in appointing vice-chancellors to public universities established under state acts. States argued that this undermines their constitutional rights within India’s federal structure.
The resolution also opposed clauses that curtail state powers in constituting search-and-selection committees for appointing vice-chancellors. Additionally, it called for the removal of provisions permitting the appointment of non-academics as vice-chancellors.
The UGC regulations are part of broader efforts to set national benchmarks for higher education appointments, but opposition from states underscores ongoing tensions over federal and state jurisdiction in educational governance.
(Inputs from ANI)
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