Assam approves Bill to curtail religious conversion activities in private universities

The Assam Assembly, on March 24, approved a Bill to limit private universities from taking up activities in the area of religious conversion of students, staff, and teachers. The House also cleared the Bills for establishment of three new universities and amendment of Acts of nine existing varsities.

Education Minister Ranoj Peju placed the Bills before the House for adoption and passage, in addition to another one proposing amendment to the Assam Private Universities Act, 2007.

The Assam Private Universities Bill, 2025 had suggested putting restrictions on the varsities from engaging in any activity concerning conversion of students, faculties and other employees. The university will have a secular nature, the amendment Bill stated.

It further suggested that the university should not introduce any new technical, medical, para-medical, nursing and other allied technical courses in relation to agriculture, veterinary, dairy and other allied subjects from April 1, 2025.

The amendment also suggested a security clearance report in respect of the antecedents or precedents of the sponsoring organization from the Home and Political Department, Government of Assam.

It also suggests a provision for the state government's inspection of the university every three years to ensure if the conditions laid down at the time of its establishment have been met. Any lapse in compliance to conditions could result in dissolution of the university, the amended Act stipulated.

The EdTech Skills University Bill, 2025, aimed at setting up a private varsity for promoting learning and evaluation of higher education and research as per New Education Policy, was enacted.

As sponsored by the World Education Mission, the new university would be set up in Tinsukia, Pegu added.

For similar purposes of the promotion of higher education, superior learning, and development of research, The Swami Vivekanand University Bill, 2025 and The Maa Kamakhya University Bill, 2025 have been sanctioned by the Assembly. 

Introduces by Social Action and Research Foundation, proposed Swami Vivekanand University will permanently sit at Odlaguri, Chirang district, with its operation center at Kokrajhar.

The proposed Maa Kamakhya University, which is being sponsored by Gabeshona Eduversity Foundation, will be located in Sipajhar in Darrang district.

The Srimanta Sankardeva University of Health Sciences Bill, 2025 was introduced by Pegu on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the in-charge of Medical Education and Research Department.

It aims to make sure that "institutes/organisations/ bodies requesting affiliation from the Srimanta Sankardeva University of Health Sciences do not pose any threat to national security, are secular in nature and are making use of legal funding for establishing the institutes.".

The House has also approved eight other Bills to suggest that the initial vice-chancellor of eight varsities be nominated by the state government and that the subsequent VCs are to be appointed by the chancellor based on a recommendation by an advisory board.