Tirupati MP Seeks Clarity on Higher Education Bill, Calls for Debate

What are you doing? Tirupati MP Dr M. Gurumurthy expressed concerns about the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill-2025 introduced for the implementation of the National Education Policy. He asked the Center to explain how the new regulatory system proposed in the Bill would help achieve the objectives of the policy.

The MP had previously explored the details of the plan to bring universities and higher education institutions into the new framework in the Parliament. He also asked what measures are proposed to protect institutional autonomy and academic freedom so that teachers, researchers and students can teach, conduct research and express their ideas without government or institutional pressure. He also sought clarity on how academic standards would be maintained.

According to Gurumurthy, Union minister of state for education Sukanta Majumdar in his response only referred to the objectives of the Bill and did not elaborate on its implementation, timeline or specific measures. “While the Center has stated that the proposed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan body will give autonomy to higher education institutions, there is no clarity on how this will work in practice, what role state governments will have or whether academic freedom will receive legal protection,” he asked.

With the bill now referred to a joint committee of Parliament, the MP said on Thursday that debate, transparency and clear safeguards were needed as the bill would have a long-term impact on the higher education system. He emphasized that appropriate changes must be made to ensure that university autonomy, academic quality and academic freedom are protected.