Kerala Clears Draft Bill to Regulate Private Universities with New Guidelines Details Here

Kerala government has approved a draft bill for the establishment and management of private universities in the state, with the state cabinet approving the Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Draft Bill, 2025. Chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Bill allows only credible sponsoring agencies with experience in the education sector to apply to establish a private university in the state.

Kerala University Bill 2025 Rules

The following rules must be followed for the university to be estaBLISHED:

• The university must own land as per the guidelines set by regulatory bodies and deposit a Rs 25 crore corpus fund in the state treasury. 
• If it is a multi-campus university, the main campus must cover at least 10 acres of land. 
• The university must also follow UGC and state government guidelines regarding faculty appointments, the selection of the Vice-Chancellor, and overall administration. 
• Around 40% of seats in each course must be reserved for students from Kerala, following the state's existing reservation policy. 
• Scholarships and fee waivers for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students communities will continue. 

Kerala University Bill 2025 Steps to Register

The following steps sum up all the necessary steps to register a private university in Kerala under the Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Draft Bill, 2025: 

1. The university community must submit a detailed project report along with the application fee. This report must include information about the university’s land, funding sources, and management structure. 
2. A government-appointed expert force will review the applications and submit its recommendations within two months. 
3. Once approved, the university will be officially recognised through a law passed in the Legislative Assembly.

Kerala University Bill 2025 Important Points

• Private universities will have the same rights and powers as public universities.
• The state government will not provide financial support to private universities, but they can apply for research grants.
• The State Higher Education Secretary and another government-appointed secretary will be part of the university's governing bodies for proper management.
• The state will have one representative in the executive council and three representatives in the academic council of private universities.The democratic rights of students, teachers, and staff will be protected, with grievance redressal systems in place.
• Employee benefits, including the provident fund (PF), must be guaranteed.
• The Cabinet approved changes to university laws, removing the provision for setting up study centers outside the state and abroad.
• Existing syndicates, senates, and executive committees will continue until new ones are formed or their terms end, to avoid administrative delays.
• A special provision will ensure a smooth transition during the restructuring of university bodies like academic councils and boards of studies.

For more updates on education news, stay tuned to Jagran Josh.

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