Central Universities (Amendment) Bill 2021 introduced amidst opposition

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday introduced the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021, in the Lok Sabha amidst protests by the opposition demanding a probe into the Pegasus scandal and farmers' issues. The bill seeks to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009 to enable the establishment of a university by the name of Sindhu Central University in the union territory of Ladakh.

The opposition protested the introduction of the bill. Congress leader Manish Tewary also noted the time-honoured convention in the House that no legislation can be passed until the House is in order. "What is happening is completely unconstitutional, it is murder of democracy," he added.

In the statement put forth by Pradhan, he said that the government intends to start a central university in Ladakh to ensure increased accessibility and quality of higher education, facilitate and promote avenues of higher education and research. The university would also cater to the regional aspirations of Ladakh. As of now, there is no central university in Ladakh.

Last month, the union cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister had approved the establishment of both a central university for Rs 750 crore and an integrated multi-purpose infrastructure development corporation with a fund of 25 crores in Ladakh. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur had added that the university would cater to all areas of Ladakh, including Leh and Kargil.

Thakur further added that the university would help reduce the imbalance in the education sector in the region, and the students from the region will get quality higher education. It would further help intellectual development and better higher education and will help improve the quality of education, Thakur added.