Politics · India · 6 hrs ago
Keralam eases approval rules for courses and seats at autonomous colleges
Keralam’s UDF government has eased approval rules for autonomous colleges introducing self-financing courses and increasing some seats.
A Higher Education Department circular issued on November 6 withdrew earlier instructions and changed how colleges obtain government no-objection certificates.
Under the new rules, autonomous colleges can start self-financing courses without a government certificate, and autonomous aided colleges can also permanently increase seats in existing courses without one.
Government approval remains required for aided courses and seats, while universities or regulators must still approve changes at unaided and self-financing colleges.
Higher Education Minister Roji M. John says the change supports academic autonomy, while 50% of seats remain merit seats and reservation rules continue to apply.
Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan says the change could allow private managements to expand without enough checks, and the SFI has begun protests, accusing the government of commercialising education.
The government says approval will still be needed for programmes that create financial liability for the State; no further action is specified.
Keralam’s UDF government has eased prior approval requirements for new self-financing courses and seat increases at autonomous colleges.
A revised Higher Education Department circular issued on November 6 allows autonomous colleges to start self-financing courses without a government No Objection Certificate.
Autonomous aided colleges are also exempt from government NOC requirements for new unaided courses and permanent seat increases in existing courses.
The government says the change supports academic autonomy and reduces bureaucratic delays, while the Opposition says it risks commercialising higher education.
The circular retains government approval requirements for new aided courses and permanent seat increases in aided-stream seats.
- Who
- Keralam’s UDF government issued the revised rules. The Opposition and the Students Federation of India have criticised the move.
- What
- The government eased approval requirements for new self-financing courses and seat increases at autonomous colleges.
- When
- The revised circular was issued on November 6. The article was published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Keralam, at colleges affiliated to state-run universities.
- Why
- The government says the changes promote academic autonomy and reduce bureaucratic delays. The Opposition says they could facilitate commercialisation of higher education.
Keralam government
Opposition
Purpose
Keralam government
The government says the changes strengthen academic autonomy and modernise higher education.
Opposition
The Opposition says the changes could facilitate commercialisation of higher education.
Oversight
Keralam government
The government says approval remains necessary for programmes involving financial liability for the State.
Opposition
The Opposition says the changes could allow private managements to add courses and seats without adequate scrutiny of infrastructure, academic requirements and regulatory compliance.
An earlier circular set out approval requirements for new courses and seat increases, including annual renewal of government NOCs for self-financing colleges.
The Higher Education Department issued a revised circular withdrawing the earlier instructions and easing requirements for autonomous institutions.
The SFI opposed the decision and began protests in various parts of Keralam.
- Revised circular
- Issued November 6
- Self-financing courses
- Autonomous colleges can introduce new courses without a government NOC
- Permanent seat increases
- Autonomous aided colleges do not need a government NOC for increases in existing courses
- Merit seats
- 50% of seats in the relevant self-financing programmes remain merit seats, according to the minister
- Government approval
- Still required for new aided courses and permanent increases in aided-stream seats
What people are saying
requiring them to obtain approval from both the affiliating university and the government prior to introducing a new self-financing course defeated the principle of academic autonomy.
why the government had announced substantial concessions immediately after representatives of college managements met the Higher Education Minister.