Mann Urges Centre to Rethink Higher Education Law, Flags Concerns Over Centralisation
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday wrote to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, asking him to reconsider the ‘Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhiniyam Bill, 2025’.
He said the law could make higher education more expensive, weaken opportunities for students from ordinary families and reduce states’ ability to meet local education needs.
In his letter to Pradhan, Mann called for wider consultations before implementing changes that could significantly alter the higher education landscape.
Emphasizing that many parents across the country pin their hopes and dreams on their children’s education, Mann said that higher education should not be a burden on families and should remain a path of opportunity for the child of a farmer, worker or tradesman.
He argued that India’s progress depends on making higher education more accessible, affordable and inclusive by investing more in universities, infrastructure, faculty and research, rather than measures that could increase costs and centralize decision-making.
Mann stated that he was writing his letter not only as the chief minister of Punjab, but also as a representative of millions of parents across India whose best hopes are linked to the education of their children.
“Every family wants their child to receive quality education, to stand on their own feet, to gain honorable employment and to contribute to the development of the country. Therefore, education is not just an administrative issue, but a problem that concerns India’s bright future.” he said.
“I initially hoped that the proposed legislation would strengthen the quality, accountability and global competitiveness of higher education institutions,” he said.
“But after carefully reviewing the bill, I have serious concerns that it seeks to centralize the most important decisions about higher education, with far-reaching consequences for students, teachers, universities and state governments,” he said.
Mann said the bill focuses on centralizing power rather than improving the quality of education.
“The success of an education system depends on how effectively it understands the needs of students, teachers and local communities. In a country as large and diverse as India, every state faces different social, economic and educational challenges,” he said.
Mann said it was natural to expect higher education legislation to focus on quality, research, innovation, employability and global competitiveness.
However, after going through the Bill, it emerged that its main purpose was to concentrate policy-making powers, standards, regulations, recognition mechanisms and appellate powers in the hands of the Union government.
“Education is a subject on the Concurrent List of the Constitution. Therefore, while minimum national standards may be desirable, states must retain the freedom to develop systems according to their own circumstances and needs. Unfortunately, this bill appears to upset this constitutional balance.” he said.
Mann stated that his concern is not just about states’ rights, but also about the future of millions of students.
“Every state in India is grappling with different challenges. Some are dealing with unemployment, some are dealing with skill development needs, industrial requirements or talent migration. Border states like Punjab face even more complex realities,” he said.
Drawing attention to the issue of centralization, Mann touched upon the functioning of central institutions such as the National Testing Agency (NTA).
“Serious questions have arisen over examination administration, transparency and reliability in recent years. While central institutions themselves struggle with such challenges, it is legitimate to ask whether further centralization of higher education is really the right direction,” he said.
“If most of the powers are concentrated in the Union government, if the role of state governments continues to shrink and central regulatory control over state universities and colleges increases, where will the financial resources for the functioning and development of these institutions come from?” he asked.
Mann also expressed concern that the proposed law could make higher education more expensive.
