Jairam Ramesh Urges NDA-Ruled States to Oppose Proposed Higher Education Bill

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh has strongly criticised the Centre’s proposed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025 , alleging that it could undermine India’s federal structure and weaken the constitutional powers of states in the higher education sector. He urged NDA-ruled states , particularly Andhra Pradesh, to oppose the legislation and submit formal dissent when it comes up for discussion during the upcoming Parliament session.

In a post on X, Ramesh took a swipe at the proposed law, remarking that it should be called the " Very Bad Shiksha Act " rather than the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan. He argued that state governments committed to protecting their constitutional rights should resist the bill and defend the principles of cooperative federalism.

Explaining his objections, Ramesh said the legislation exceeds the powers granted to Parliament under Entry 66 of the Union List , which allows the Centre to coordinate and maintain standards in higher education institutions. According to him, the proposed law goes beyond this mandate and intrudes into areas such as the establishment and regulation of universities, which are traditionally within the jurisdiction of state legislatures.

He also criticised the bill for not creating an independent grants mechanism as envisioned under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 . Ramesh warned that funding powers currently exercised by autonomous bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) could effectively shift to the Union Education Ministry, potentially reducing institutional autonomy.

Another major concern relates to the independence of premier institutions, including the IITs, IIMs, NITs, IIITs and IISERs . Ramesh pointed to Clause 49 of the bill, claiming it could override existing laws and bring these institutions under a new regulatory framework despite the autonomy granted to them through separate Acts of Parliament.

He further argued that the bill weakens the consultative framework that currently exists under the UGC system. While universities are presently consulted before standards and regulations are framed, the new proposal, he said, gives wider discretionary powers to governing councils, reducing the influence of educational institutions in decision-making.

Referring to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu , Ramesh said Naidu had earlier voiced concerns over central legislation affecting state interests. He urged the TDP chief to take a firm stand against the bill if he wishes to safeguard state rights and educational autonomy.

The VBSA Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 15, 2025 , as part of the Centre’s efforts to reform the higher education sector. The legislation is currently under examination by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) , which has been consulting experts from leading institutions, including IIT Bombay and other academic bodies. While the government maintains that the bill will strengthen and modernise higher education, opposition parties argue that it centralises authority and reduces the role of states and autonomous institutions.