Punjab CM Urges Centre to Rethink Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhiniyam Bill, 2025
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging a rethink of the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhiniyam Bill, 2025. He claims the proposed law centralises power and risks making higher education expensive and less inclusive.
Highlights
- •Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has called for a review of the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhiniyam Bill, 2025.
- •The primary concern raised is the potential for excessive centralisation of power in the higher education sector.
- •Concerns were expressed regarding the affordability of education for students from ordinary families.
- •The CM highlighted systemic challenges in current central institutions like the NTA as a reason to caution against further centralisation.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has formally requested that the Union government reconsider the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhiniyam Bill, 2025, citing significant concerns regarding the potential centralisation of the higher education sector. In a formal communication directed to the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Chief Minister expressed apprehension that the proposed legislation could inadvertently impose higher financial burdens on families and restrict the ability of state governments to manage regional educational requirements.
Addressing Concerns Over Centralisation
The core of the objection lies in the perceived shift toward a highly centralised governance model for Indian universities. Bhagwant Mann argued that the effective development of an education system relies on addressing the distinct socioeconomic and regional needs of a vast and diverse nation. By consolidating regulatory, recognition, and appellate authorities under the Union government, the legislation risks undermining the constitutional balance established for education, which is currently a subject on the Concurrent List.
Beyond the administrative implications, the Chief Minister raised critical questions regarding the future of accessibility for students from ordinary backgrounds. He emphasised that quality higher education should remain a pathway for social mobility for the children of farmers, laborers, and small business owners. There is a fear that the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhiniyam Bill, 2025 could complicate institutional operations and inflate costs, making it increasingly difficult for average families to afford higher learning opportunities.
Impact on Institutional Credibility and Governance
The communication also drew a parallel to the performance of existing central regulatory bodies, such as the National Testing Agency (NTA). Referring to recent challenges regarding examination management and transparency, the Chief Minister questioned the wisdom of further centralising authority. He asserted that if the role of state governments in policy formulation continues to diminish while central oversight grows, it could lead to severe deficits in the necessary financial resources and infrastructure development required for local institutions.
Ultimately, Bhagwant Mann has urged the Centre to engage in wider, more inclusive consultations before moving forward with these changes. He highlighted that education remains a pillar of national progress and that any reform must prioritise accessibility, research, and local adaptability over the concentration of policy-making power. The focus, according to the Punjab administration, should remain on investing in better infrastructure, faculty, and research initiatives rather than restructuring the administrative control of universities across the country.
