Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the new framework will expand access to quality higher education in the Union territory.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has notified the Private Universities Rules to facilitate the establishment of national and international higher learning institutions in the Union territory, according to reports by Hindustan Times, ThePrint and The Tribune.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the notification as a significant milestone for the region's academic ecosystem. He congratulated Minister for Education Shamim Firdous on the move.
The new rules include a simplified approval mechanism with a provision for preliminary scrutiny within 30 days. The framework also establishes a regulatory mechanism to monitor admissions, fee structures, and academic standards.
To safeguard local interests, the rules mandate a minimum 25 per cent reservation for Jammu and Kashmir domiciles in student admissions and in both teaching and non-teaching positions.
The regulatory framework includes stringent penalties for violations such as excess fee collection, issuance of invalid degrees, and deficiencies in faculty strength or infrastructure. It aims to ensure accountability and quality assurance.
The framework will cover various disciplines, including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), medicine, law, business studies, and liberal arts. Abdullah said the rules would broaden academic choices and create opportunities for research and innovation.
