P.B. Prince Gajendra Babu (seated at the centre), general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System–Tamil Nadu, during a public meeting on State rights and NEET organised by the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam at Avarampalayam in Coimbatore on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: PERIASAMY M
The Tamil Nadu Government should make public its stand on the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, and explain what it has communicated to the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the proposed legislation, said P.B. Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System–Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN).
Speaking at a public meeting on State rights and NEET organised by the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam at Avarampalayam in Coimbatore city on Tuesday, Mr. Gajendra Babu alleged that the Bill was part of an attempt by the BJP and the RSS to centralise control over higher education and weaken the powers of State governments.
He said the State government should inform the Assembly and the people about its response to the Bill and demand a public hearing in Tamil Nadu, as the proposed legislation could have a direct bearing on the functioning of State universities and colleges.
Mr. Gajendra Babu alleged that the BJP-led Union Government was using the Bill to bring regulation of universities and higher educational institutions under a centralised framework. He claimed that the proposed system could enable the Union Government to exercise greater control over accreditation, standards and regulation of institutions in the States.
The proposed legislation, he said, would replace existing regulatory bodies, including the University Grants Commission, with a new framework comprising separate councils for standards, accreditation and regulation.
He alleged that the regulatory changes, along with provisions facilitating the entry of foreign universities, could weaken State-run universities by exposing them to competition without ensuring adequate public funding.
“State universities will be weakened through lack of funds, while private and foreign universities will be allowed to expand,” he said, adding that such a situation would adversely affect institutions such as Bharathiar University and other State universities.
He further alleged that the BJP and the RSS were attempting to use the proposed regulatory structure to influence the content of higher education. Referring to the proposed standard-setting mechanism, he expressed concern that what he described as unscientific or unverified claims could be introduced into academic curricula under the guise of an “Indian knowledge system”.
Mr. Gajendra Babu also questioned the constitutional basis for extending regulatory powers over State universities to the Union Government. He said the division of legislative powers between the Union and States should not be altered through an ordinary legislation.
He urged the Tamil Nadu Government to take a clear position on the Bill and place before the public the representations made by it to the parliamentary committee.
On NEET, Mr. Gajendra Babu alleged that the examination had contributed to the commercialisation of medical education and benefited private institutions charging high fees. He called for the withdrawal of NEET and other centralised entrance examinations.
He also said that citizens were not merely voters but the ultimate holders of sovereign power and had the constitutional right to question governments and oppose policies they considered detrimental to their interests.
Published – August 11, 2026 10:55 pm IST
