Kerala Higher Education Minister urges MPs to oppose VBSA Bill
Kerala Higher Education Minister Roji M. John has urged state MPs to oppose the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025. He argues that the bill centralizes power, undermines state autonomy, and threatens the federal structure of higher education governance.
Why it matters
The bill represents a significant shift in the balance of power between the Union and State governments regarding educational policy.
Kerala Higher Education Minister Roji M. John has appealed to all members of Parliament from the State to oppose the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025, arguing that several of its provisions would centralise control over higher education and weaken the constitutional role of States.
In a letter addressed to Kerala MPs in both Houses of Parliament, Mr. John said while the government was projecting the Bill as a reform measure aimed at improving higher education, research and innovation, he contended that its provisions had wider constitutional implications.
“Beneath the language of reform lies a framework that concentrates unprecedented powers in the Union government, weakens the constitutional role of the States, and threatens the autonomy of institutions”, the Minister said.
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