Archive · 6 Jan 2026
India Scraps Deemed Universities, Allows Top Colleges to Award Degrees
The Indian government is planning to remove the 'deemed university' status from all current institutions.
Instead, these institutions will become full-fledged universities.
Additionally, the government will allow top-performing colleges to award degrees directly.
This change is part of a new law called the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill.
The bill will replace older laws that currently govern universities and colleges.
A new regulatory council will decide which colleges can award degrees.
This council can also take away this power if colleges break the rules.
The goal is to improve the higher education system in India.
All 150 deemed universities will lose their 'deemed' status and become full-fledged universities.
The VBSA Bill will repeal the UGC Act, AICTE Act, and NCTE Act.
Top-performing colleges can be authorised by the Union government to award degrees.
A regulatory council under VBSA will evaluate and approve degree-granting powers to colleges.
The council can revoke degree-granting powers if colleges violate provisions of the law.
- Who
- Indian government and educational institutions
- What
- Scrapping of deemed universities and authorisation of top colleges to award degrees
- When
- Proposed under the VBSA Bill
- Where
- India
- Why
- To reform the higher education system and empower leading colleges
- Number of Deemed Universities
- 150
- Proposed Regulatory Body
- Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA)
- Acts to be Repealed
- UGC Act, AICTE Act, NCTE Act
- Panel Proposal in 2009
- Withdrawal of deemed tag from 44 out of 126 institutions
- New Mechanism
- Union government to authorise leading colleges to award degrees
- Regulatory Council Power
- Authorize and revoke degree-granting powers with central government approval