Kasaragodupdates

Kasaragodupdates We provides you news, events, analysis and in-depth coverage of everything close to the hearts....

The future of thousands of higher education aspirants in Kerala hangs in the balance as Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arl...
30/05/2026

The future of thousands of higher education aspirants in Kerala hangs in the balance as Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar continues to withhold assent to the historic Kerala State Private Universities Bill. By referring the unanimously passed legislation to the President of India, the Governor has effectively frozen a crucial educational reform, triggering widespread outrage among students, parents, and academic experts who accuse the Raj Bhavan of actively ruining the academic prospects of the state's youth.

A Historic Reform Blocked

Passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly on March 25, 2025, the landmark bill was designed to modernise the state's higher education sector. For decades, Kerala has witnessed a massive "brain drain," with thousands of students migrating to neighboring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, or moving abroad, to pursue cutting-edge courses in private universities.

The 2025 Bill aimed to reverse this trend by allowing top-tier private institutions to set up campuses within Kerala. This move promised to:

* Stop Student Migration: Keep local talent and financial resources within the state.
* Modernise Curriculum: Introduce industry-aligned, flexible courses that state-run universities often fail to provide quickly.
* Create Opportunities: Offer world-class education locally for students who cannot afford the steep cost of living outside Kerala.

By refusing to sign the bill and pushing it into a prolonged federal bureaucratic loop, the Governor has single-handedly halted this progress.

Students Pay the Price

The real casualties of this political standoff are the students. Academic sessions are passing by, and the delay means another generation of school-leavers is forced to look outside Kerala for competitive higher education.

"We expected to enroll in advanced tech programs right here in Kochi by 2026," says Anjali Menon, a higher secondary graduate. "Because of the Governor’s delay, I now have to spend double the amount to study in Bengaluru. The Raj Bhavan is playing with our careers."

Read more in comments.

Keeping an “open mind” on allowing foreign universities in Kerala and restructuring the controversial Four-Year Undergra...
30/05/2026

Keeping an “open mind” on allowing foreign universities in Kerala and restructuring the controversial Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) will be among the key priorities of the new UDF government, Higher Education Minister Roji M John has said.

In an interview, the minister said the government was willing to consider both private and foreign universities to stem the growing exodus of students from Kerala and make the state’s higher education sector globally competitive.

“We are open-minded on foreign universities. It is our responsibility to provide what our students need in Kerala,” he said, adding that students today seek global exposure and better academic opportunities.

Describing the migration of students outside Kerala as a “serious issue”, Roji said the government would focus on identifying the reasons behind the trend and improving institutions in the state.

“We have a responsibility to find out why they are leaving Kerala. We are committed to changing Kerala’s higher education sector to make it attractive to students, enabling a major chunk of them to stay in the state,” he said.

Clarifying that the UDF had not opposed the previous LDF government’s bill on private universities, Roji said the front had pointed out the shortcomings in the legislation and would come up with a policy decision after discussions. “We are open to considering both private and foreign universities,” he reiterated.

On the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP), which has faced criticism from sections of teachers and students, Roji indicated that the government planned to review and restructure the programme.

“Widespread criticism exists that FYUGP was rolled out without adequate preparatory work. We believe FYUGP should be reviewed and the changes implemented,” he said.

30/05/2026

Construction of the ₹100-crore Emin International Academy campus in Kasaragod's Kuniya is moving at an incredible pace.

A giant football-themed public viewing arena is set to come alive in Kozhikode as the Puthiyapalam Janakiya Samiti has a...
29/05/2026

A giant football-themed public viewing arena is set to come alive in Kozhikode as the Puthiyapalam Janakiya Samiti has announced the installation of a big-screen stadium for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, aiming to bring together football fans from across the region for a festive community experience.

Organisers said the venue will host live screenings of key matches along with a cultural festival featuring music, performances, food stalls, and entertainment programs, turning the public viewing space into a celebration of football and local culture.

The Kerala government has become the first state to create a portfolio exclusively dedicated to artificial intelligence,...
29/05/2026

The Kerala government has become the first state to create a portfolio exclusively dedicated to artificial intelligence, to be managed by senior IUML leader P.K. Kunhalikutty.

The Kerala government on Wednesday released the official gazette notification detailing the allocation of portfolios among the 20 ministers in the Congress-led United Democratic Front government. The AI portfolio has been allocated to Kunhalikutty, who is also in charge of industries, IT and start-ups. Kunhalikutty had held the IT portfolio since 2001 in the A.K. Antony and Oommen Chandy-led governments.

Joseph C. Mathew, a leading IT consultant in Kerala, told that he was not aware whether the government had actually decided to set up a separate department for AI.

“Chief minister V.D. Satheesan had announced only a new department for the elderly welfare. Clarity has to emerge on whether the existing IT department has been renamed. If a department name has to be changed, there are various administrative overheads to be addressed. That means Kerala is thinking seriously about AI,” Mathew, who was the IT adviser to former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan, said.

A source in the IT ministry told this newspaper that the allocation of the dedicated portfolio on AI was at its nascent stage. It’s learned that industry experts in the AI sector were yet to be included in Kunhalikutty’s office, which would take a few more days to settle in.

The Kerala government came out with the gazette notification on Wednesday, making it the first state to allocate a dedicated portfolio for AI. The Tamil Nadu government folowed suit on Thursday by allocating the AI portfolio to TVK MLA R. Kumar.

Address

Kasaragod

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Kasaragodupdates posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Kasaragodupdates:

Shortcuts

Share

Category