Article For Reading: Centralising control: On the

Draft UGC Regulations, 2025

In a federal setup, attempts at undermining any

stakeholder in the subject matter of education, which is in
the Concurrent List, will prove disruptive. The Draft UGC
(Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion
of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and
Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards
in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025, seeks to do
precisely this. Demonstrating the Centre’s penchant for
facilitating control over institutions through gubernatorial
proxies, it proposes to divest State governments of their
role in the selection process for Vice Chancellor (VC) of
universities. All powers are sought to be vested in the
Chancellor — i.e., the Governor in most State universities
— by taking away the function of constituting the search-
cum-selection committee from the higher education
departments. Such a committee would comprise a
nominee each of the Chancellor; UGC Chairman; and of
the respective university syndicate/senate. The Chancellor
would appoint the VC out of three to five names
recommended by the committee. Any violations, the draft
warns, could attract debarment from participating in UGC
schemes and denial of funding under the UGC Act. This
comes against the backdrop of conflicts between State
governments and Raj Bhavans on appointing VCs,
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Which have deprived several universities, particularly in
Tamil Nadu, of leadership. Naturally, opposition has
come from several States, including Tamil Nadu, which
passed a House resolution urging the Centre to
immediately withdraw the draft. Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister M.K. Stalin has argued that the draft is not only
against the basic federal principles enshrined in the
Constitution but also poses a threat to the higher
education system. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan, the AIADMK and the CPI-M have endorsed this
stance.

A proposal to make non-academics eligible for the VC’s

job has also drawn criticism. The draft says such non-
academics must have served for at least 10 years at a
senior level in industry, public administration, public
policy and/or public sector undertakings, with a proven
track record of significant academic or scholarly
contributions. Mr. Vijayan fears this could be used to
appoint Sangh Parivar loyalists. However, universities
have benefited from the scholarship of non-academics
such as former President K.R. Narayanan and scientist Y.
Nayudamma; appointing academics does not guarantee
visionary leadership. The proposal to extend the VC’s
tenure from the typical three to five years is welcome.
The UGC would do well to remove anti-federal clauses
from the draft regulations and allay apprehensions on
other provisions.
In the long run, it should aim for reforms to obliterate any
governmental role in university administration, except
maybe, for funding, and elevate them into truly
autonomous institutions that nurture excellence.

Summary
The Draft UGC Regulations, 2025, propose centralizing the
process of appointing Vice Chancellors (VCs) by giving the
Governor (Chancellor) full authority over the selection
committee, sidelining State governments. This has
sparked opposition from States like Tamil Nadu and
Kerala, citing threats to federalism and higher education
autonomy. The draft also permits non-academics with
industry or public administration experience to become
VCs, which critics fear could enable partisan
appointments. While the proposed extension of VC
tenures is welcomed, the draft’s anti-federal provisions
have drawn widespread criticism. Reforms should aim for
greater university autonomy and reduced government
interference.
Vocabulary –

1. Disruptive (Adjective) विघटनकारी, बाधा डालने िाला, या

अशाांतकारी।
Meaning - Causing disruption, disturbance, or
interruption, often challenging the existing order or
norms.
Synonyms – Disturbing, Troublesome, Interruptive,
Disorderly, Chaotic
Antonyms – Constructive, Orderly, Stabilizing,
Harmonious, Peaceful.
Example – The protest outside the office became so
disruptive that the police had to intervene.

2. Penchant (Noun) (रुझान)

Meaning: A strong or habitual liking for something or
tendency to do something.
Synonyms: Liking, preference, inclination
Antonyms: Dislike, aversion, antipathy
Example: She has a penchant for collecting rare books.

3.Debarment (Noun) (प्रततबांध)

Meaning: The act of officially preventing someone from
doing something.
Synonyms: Exclusion, prohibition, barring
Antonyms: Allowance, permission, inclusion
Example: His debarment from the competition was due
to unethical practices.
4. Gubernatorial (adjective) राज्यपाल सांबांधी
Meaning: relating to a state governor or the office of
state governor () Sentence: The gubernatorial
candidate promised to reform education policies if
elected.
Synonym: Administrative, Executive
Antonym: Non-governmental
Example : The gubernatorial candidate promised to
reform education policies if elected.

5. Proxies (noun) प्रतततनधध

Meaning : a person authorized to act on behalf of
another.
Synonym: Representatives, Delegates
Antonym: Principals, Opponents
Example: They voted through proxies at the annual
shareholders’ meeting.

6. Vested (adjective) अधधकाररत

Meaning= secured in the possession of or assigned to a
person.
Synonym: Established, Conferred
Antonym: Conditional, Unsecured
Example: After years of service, she finally has a vested
interest in the company’s profit-sharing plan.
7. Syndicate (noun)सांघ
Meaning = a group of individuals or
organizations combined to promote some
common interest
Synonym: Consortium, League
Antonym: Individual, Single
Example: The media syndicate owns several
radio stations and newspapers across the
country.

8. Allay (verb) शाांत करना

Meaning= diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion,
or worry)
Synonym: Reduce, Alleviate
Antonym: Aggravate, Intensify
Example: The report helped to allay investors’
fears about economic instability.

9. Obliterate (Verb) (नष्ट करना)

Meaning: To destroy completely; to wipe out.
Synonyms: Annihilate, erase, exterminate
Antonyms: Preserve, restore, construct
Example: The war obliterated entire villages,
leaving nothing behind.
10. Stance (Noun) दृष्ष्टकोण
Meaning – An attitude, opinion, or position on a
particular issue or topic.
Synonyms : Viewpoint, Opinion, Perspective, Approach.
Antonyms : Indifference, Neutrality, Uncertainty.
Example : The company adopted a strict stance against
discrimination.

Idioms & Phrases -

1. Poses a threat to:
Meaning - Represents a danger or risk to something.

2. In the long run:

Meaning - Over an extended period of time.

Phrasal Verbs
1. Deprived of leadership:
Meaning - Lacking proper guidance or authority.