Hyderabad: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is being reduced to a tool for the BJP-led Central government’s agenda, warned senior academics at a conference here on Sunday. They called for an immediate withdrawal of the recently issued UGC guidelines which, they argued, undermine institutional autonomy and pose a serious threat to democracy. This is the second conference against the new regulations in the city.
The conference titled ‘UGC 2025 Regulations – An Attack on University Autonomy’ was organised by the All India Students’ Federation (AISF). Academic and activist Prof. Haragopal and Osmania University Arts College Principal Prof. Kasim attended the conference and expressed concern over the government’s increasing control over higher education. The event was chaired by AISF Telangana president Kasireddy Manikantha Reddy.
Prof. Haragopal criticised the BJP-led central government, accusing it of prioritising political control over education under the guise of reforms. He stated that the new UGC draft guidelines, released on January 6, weaken the constitutional division of powers by centralising decision-making at the expense of state governments. “Despite clear constitutional provisions, the draft proposals violate federal principles and reduce state authority over university matters,” he said. He also argued that the new regulations give Governors disproportionate power in appointing Vice-Chancellors (VCs), rendering state governments powerless in decisions.
Speakers at the conference urged students and faculty to mobilise against what they called an attempt to turn universities into ideological and financial instruments serving corporate and political interests.
