Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Aliah University Shifted From Madrasa Affairs To Higher Education
Suvendu Adhikari announced that Aliah University will be managed by the higher education department.
It was previously under the madrasa education and minority affairs department.
The university has been under that department since it began in 2007.
Adhikari said the state should have one education department.
He also said students should succeed based on merit, not religion.
A professor disagreed with the idea that every university must be under higher education.
The professor noted that agriculture and health universities are managed by their own departments.
The professor also said Aliah University’s separate department was meant to provide special attention.
Suvendu Adhikari announced that Aliah University will move to the higher education department.
The university had been administered by the madrasa education and minority affairs department since 2007.
Adhikari said the state should have one education department and opposed religious-based distinctions.
A university professor said other institutions, including agriculture and health universities, are administered by specialized departments.
The professor said the separate department had been intended to give Aliah University special attention.
- Who
- Suvendu Adhikari announced the change; a university professor offered a differing view.
- What
- Aliah University will be administered by the higher education department instead of the madrasa education and minority affairs department.
- When
- The announcement was made on Monday.
- Where
- Suvendu Adhikari made the announcement at a news conference at Nabanna, the state secretariat.
- Why
- Adhikari said there should be one education department and no differentiation between students based on religion; a professor said specialized administration can provide Aliah University with special attention.
Specialized Department Administration
Unified Higher Education Administration
How Aliah University should be managed
Specialized Department Administration
A university professor said a separate department can give Aliah University special attention, noting that some other universities are also overseen by specialized departments.
Unified Higher Education Administration
Suvendu Adhikari said Aliah University should be under the higher education department and that the state should have one education department.
Religious distinction in education
Specialized Department Administration
The professor described the separate department as an administrative arrangement intended to support the institution, rather than addressing the government's broader position on religious differentiation.
Unified Higher Education Administration
Adhikari said students from majority and minority communities should progress on merit and should not be differentiated on the basis of religion.
- University
- Aliah University
- New administrative department
- Higher education department
- Previous administrative department
- Madrasa education and minority affairs department
- University operating since
- 2007
- Announcement venue
- Nabanna, the state secretariat
- Government position
- Students should progress based on merit rather than religious identity
- Contrasting examples
- North Bengal Agriculture University is under agriculture, while West Bengal University of Health Sciences is under health