Kerala opens doors to private universities: A new era in higher education
Strict regulations to be in place to maintain academic standards in these institutions
Dubai: Kerala has opened its doors for private universities with the Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 2025, being passed by the Kerala Assembly.
This significant policy shift comes under the CPM-led LDF Government, which has taken a step toward allowing private institutions in the state’s higher education sector.
The bill is designed to regulate the establishment and functioning of private universities in Kerala, ensuring that they adhere to the state’s educational standards and serve the local community’s needs.
The Bill, which underwent scrutiny by the Subject Committee, was met with heated debates and strong opposition concerns before being passed.
State Higher Education Minister R Bindu defended the Bill, stating that it was a progressive step for Kerala’s education sector. She assured that strict regulations would be in place to maintain academic standards in private universities.
Key provisions of the Bill:
Seat reservation and scholarships:
Private universities must reserve 40% of their seats for students who are permanent residents of Kerala, in line with the state’s existing reservation policies. Additionally, the bill mandates scholarships and fee concessions for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students.
Establishment criteria:
To establish a private university, a sponsoring body must own at least 25 acres of land and set up an endowment fund of ₹25 crore. The sponsoring body also needs to submit a detailed project report, which will be evaluated by a six-member Expert Committee before receiving final approval from the State Government.
Governance and oversight:
The bill provides that the Chancellor of each private university will be chosen by the sponsoring body, who must be a respected academician or a person of distinction in fields such as law, technology, medicine, or public administration. The Vice-Chancellor will be appointed by the Chancellor, adhering to qualifications set by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Furthermore, the State Government retains the power to request information from the universities and can even de-recognize a university following an inquiry.
However, several amendments and concerns were raised by opposition parties, particularly regarding fee structures and admission policies. Though the opposition did not reject the Bill in principle, they expressed serious reservations.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) VD Satheesan pointed out concerns over how private universities would impact public universities and colleges.
“We do not oppose the Bill entirely, but we must analyse how it will affect public universities. The government must ensure that corporate education agencies, which have played a crucial role in Kerala’s education sector, get the opportunity to establish private universities. At the same time, the state should prioritize public universities and ensure that private institutions do not operate without accountability,” Satheesan stated.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala raised concerns about student migration from Kerala, questioning whether the new law would help curb this trend.
“Student migration is rampant in Kerala. Will this Bill help prevent it? We need a detailed study before implementing it. Simply converting existing private colleges into universities may not yield results. The government should explore the possibility of inviting global universities to set up campuses in the state. The current requirements of 10 acres of land and Rs 25 crore investment are high standards, but we need to assess if they are practical,” Chennithala remarked.
While Congress leaders sought further scrutiny, Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) MLA K.K. Rema strongly opposed the Bill, calling for its complete withdrawal.
“This Bill promotes the commercialization of education. It will create a situation where only the wealthy can afford higher education. The same Left government that once opposed self-financing institutions is now pushing for private universities. This is a move to privatize education,” Rema criticized.
Despite opposition concerns, Speaker A.N. Shamseer put the Bill to a voice vote, and it was passed in the Assembly.
For years, Kerala has resisted the entry of private universities, with opposition particularly from the CPM-affiliated student body SFI. However, the current administration justifies this shift by focusing on the strengthening of public universities and ensuring that private institutions meet social conditions like seat reservations and scholarships for marginalized communities.
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