Keralam eases rules for autonomous colleges to introduce self-financing courses
THE Keralam Government has relaxed the regulatory requirements for autonomous colleges, introducing self-financing courses, allowing them greater freedom to launch new programmes and increase student intake without obtaining prior government approval.
Under the revised guidelines issued by the Higher Education Department, self-financing autonomous colleges and the self-financing streams of aided autonomous colleges will no longer require a government No Objection Certificate (NOC) to introduce new courses or increase seats in existing programmes. They will, however, have to inform the government in advance.
Another significant change is the decision to end the annual renewal of NOCs. Colleges will now be required to renew their approvals only once every three years, reducing the administrative procedures and associated costs.
The revised guidelines also allow universities and relevant regulatory authorities to decide on seat increases in existing self-financing courses without seeking separate government approval.
However, the relaxation does not cover aided courses. Government approval will continue to be mandatory for introducing new courses under the aided stream in government, aided and autonomous colleges, as well as for permanent increases in seats in aided programmes.
According to the new fee structure, colleges must pay Rs 650 per course as challan fee and Rs 810 as affidavit fee for the NOC, with the payments covering three years. Colleges that secured approval for the 2026-27 academic year will have to remit the applicable fees for the subsequent two years when renewing their approval in 2029-30.
Universities have been directed to report details of newly introduced courses and increases in student intake to the government after the completion of admissions every academic year. Government intervention will remain possible in matters not covered by existing regulations and wherever a review of decisions taken by universities or regulatory authorities becomes necessary.
The decision has triggered a political controversy, with Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan criticising the government's move. He alleged that the relaxation would encourage the commercialisation of higher education and provide private college managements with opportunities to make substantial profits.
Vijayan also demanded the withdrawal of the revised circular, alleging that the government had diluted regulatory safeguards under pressure from college managements. He expressed concern that the changes could affect merit-based admissions and reservation safeguards.
Higher Education Minister Roji M John, meanwhile, defended the decision, saying the relaxation was intended to strengthen academic autonomy and enable colleges to introduce courses in response to changing educational requirements. He maintained that the concessions would not apply to government colleges or aided courses.
The revised policy has once again brought into focus the debate over balancing institutional autonomy with government oversight in Kerala's higher education sector.
