Politicising VCs

The University Grants Commission (UGC) Draft Regulations 2025, released on Monday for public feedback, herald significant changes in higher education. While touted as reforms aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, several provisions appear to dilute academic standards and invite undue politicisation into university administration. Most troubling is the removal of restrictions on contract teaching appointments. Under the previous guidelines, such appointments were capped at 10 per cent of an institution’s total faculty. The removal of this cap risks turning critical academic positions into temporary, cost-cutting measures that prioritise convenience over quality. Contract positions, while expedient, undermine long-term institutional stability and the career prospects of the faculty.

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Equally contentious is the restructuring of vice-chancellor (VC) appointments. By granting chancellors — often state governors — the authority to appoint search committees, the draft centralises power in a manner that could compromise university autonomy. Moreover, opening VC positions to industry experts and public sector professionals, while potentially bringing fresh perspectives, risks sidelining academics who understand the nuances of higher education. This redefinition of eligibility dilutes the academic integrity of university leadership. While the draft abolishes the outdated quantitative Academic Performance Indicator (API) system, replacing it with qualitative assessments, the implementation remains opaque. Criteria such as innovation, societal contributions and digital content creation are commendable but lack clear evaluation mechanisms, opening the door for favouritism.

It is argued that these changes will foster flexibility and inclusivity, yet the draft’s rushed timeline for feedback — 30 days — raises concerns about genuine stakeholder engagement. Such sweeping reforms demand careful deliberation to safeguard academia from being reduced to a political battleground or a marketplace for short-term contracts. India’s higher education institutions are pillars of intellectual and cultural progress. The UGC must ensure that reforms strengthen, rather than erode, their academic foundations. Anything less risks undermining the very purpose of education.