Telangana intensified its opposition to the UGC Draft Regulations–2025, vowing not to relent until the Centre either amends or withdraws the proposed reforms.
IT & Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu reaffirmed the state’s commitment to resisting what he called an “unconstitutional overreach” that threatens federal principles in higher education.
Addressing the media at the secretariat on Friday, Sridhar revealed that six states had already taken a united stand against the draft during a landmark meeting in Bengaluru on August 5. A joint resolution was submitted to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, emphasizing the states’ objections. The movement is now set to escalate, with Kerala hosting the next crucial meeting to strengthen the resistance.
He also pointed to the growing national opposition, highlighting that Rahul Gandhi, along with DMK leaders, led a protest in New Delhi on Thursday against the draft regulations. “Telangana will not back down. The Centre must either engage in meaningful dialogue with states or scrap these regulations entirely,” Sridhar said.
He stressed that Telangana invests Rs 4,000 crore annually in higher education, but the draft regulations seek to curtail the state’s autonomy in key areas. Even Jammu & Kashmir has signalled readiness to join the resistance, strengthening the nationwide pushback against Central ‘interference.’
One of the major concerns is the Centre’s move to introduce a centralised national entrance test for undergraduate admissions. Calling it an exclusionary policy, Sridhar warned that it would deter students from pursuing higher education. “Telangana has a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 40%, well above the national average of 28%. Such policies could reverse this progress, as fear of failure in a standardized test may drive thousands of students away from college,” he cautioned.
Another major flashpoint is the Centre’s bid to centralise the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, eliminating state representation in university governance.
Sridhar criticised this as an authoritarian move aimed at seizing control of state-run universities. “Telangana will strongly oppose this attempt to strip states of their authority,” he said.
