CM Bhagwant Singh Mann Urges Centre to Reconsider Higher Education Bill Over Concerns of Excessive Centralisation
CHANDIGARH; Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has strongly opposed the proposed ‘Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhiniyam Bill, 2025’ (Higher Education Bill), warning that the legislation could make higher education more expensive, weaken opportunities for students from ordinary families and diminish the ability of states to address local educational needs.
In a detailed letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann urged the Centre to reconsider the Bill and hold wider consultations before implementing reforms that could significantly alter the higher education landscape.
Emphasising that crores of parents across the country pin their hopes and dreams on their children’s education, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said higher education must remain a pathway of opportunity for the child of a farmer, labourer or shopkeeper, not become a burden on families. He asserted that India’s progress depends on making higher education more accessible, affordable and inclusive through greater investment in universities, infrastructure, faculty and research, rather than measures that could increase costs and centralise decision-making.
In his letter, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that he is writing not merely as the Chief Minister of Punjab but as a representative of crores of parents across India whose biggest hopes are linked to the education of their children. “Every family wants its child to receive quality education, stand on his or her own feet, secure dignified employment and contribute to the progress of the nation. That is why education is not merely an administrative subject; it is a question concerning India’s bright future,” he said.
The Chief Minister said, “I initially hoped the proposed legislation would strengthen the quality, accountability and global competitiveness of higher educational institutions. However, after carefully studying the Bill, I have serious concerns that it seeks to centralise most important decisions relating to higher education, with far-reaching consequences for students, teachers, universities and state governments.”
Raising his first major concern, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Bill appears to focus more on centralisation of power than on improving educational quality. “The success of an education system depends upon how effectively it understands the needs of students, teachers and local communities. In a country as vast and diverse as India, every state faces different social, economic and educational challenges,” he said.
The Chief Minister observed that it was natural to expect legislation on higher education to focus on quality, research, innovation, employability and global competitiveness. However, after studying the Bill, it appeared that its primary objective was to concentrate policy-making powers, standards, regulations, recognition mechanisms and appellate powers in the hands of the Union Government. “Education is a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution. Therefore, while minimum national standards may be desirable, states must retain the freedom to develop systems according to their own circumstances and needs. Unfortunately, this Bill appears to disturb that constitutional balance,” he said.
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