Universities in India
With
an approximate population of 145 crores, India is served by around 1,200
universities catering to its higher education needs. Of these, around 430 are
private universities, while the remaining consist of central, state, and deemed
universities. Of the 430 private universities, only 25 are included under 12(B)
of the UGC Act, 1956, making them eligible for central assistance. Around 94
per cent of private universities in India do not qualify for financial aid from
the central Government and must rely on their own resources for growth. The NIRF
ranking for 2024 remains dominated by central, state, and deemed universities,
with only a few private universities making it to the top 100, such as
MAHE-Manipal, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, XLRI, VIT, SIMATS University, and SRM
University-Chennai.
Universities in Sikkim
Sikkim,
with a population of around 7 lakh, now boasts 36 universities, as per the Act
passed in the state assembly. Among these, three are government-run, while the
rest are private. In the past 4 years alone, 28 private universities have been
established in the state. The national average is one university for every 12
lakh people. In contrast, Sikkim now has a university for every 0.20 lakh of
its population. According to UGC’s state-wise list of private universities as
of January 2024, Assam has 25, Arunachal Pradesh has 8, Meghalaya has 7,
Manipur has 5, Nagaland has 4, Tripura has 3, and Mizoram has one private
university.
The
universities passed by the state assembly in Sikkim, offering courses in
various disciplines, including medical science, information technology,
management, skill development, and other fields, are listed below.
Surprisingly, many of the bills put forward for establishing these private
universities, which offer diverse courses, appear to be a copy-and-paste
effort. The universities from Sl. No. 1 to Sl. No. 10 below are UGC-recognized
as of January 17, 2024, and are operational in the state.
1.
Sikkim Manipal University (1995, Private, Tadong & Majitar)
2.
Kanchendzonga State University ( 2003, State Government,
Tarku)
3.
ICFAI (2004, Private, Gangtok)
4.
Alpine University, 2005, Private, Kamrang
5.
Sikkim University (2007, Central Govt., Yangang &
Gangtok)
6.
Sikkim Professional University, formerly the Vinayaka Mission Sikkim
UUniversity(2008, Private, Tadong and Budang)
7.
SRM University (2013, Private, Gangtok)
8.
Sikkim National Law University (2018, Govt., Gangtok)
Private universities established or passed for
establishment in the last four years
9.
Sikkim Skill University (2021, Private, Namthang)
10.
The Medhavi Skills University (2021, Private, Near Singtam)
11.
Kanchandzonga Buddhist University (2020, Private)
12.
Sikkim International University (2021, Private, Kaluk)
13.
Capital University (2022, Private, Jorethang)
14.
Netaji Subash Chandra Bose University of Excellence (2022, Private,
Chakung)
15.
Mahatma Gandhi University (2022, Private, Daramdin)
16.
Sikkim Global Technical University (2023, Private, Namchi )
17.
Sikkim Organic Agriculture University (2023, Private)
18.
Sikkim Guru Padmasambhava University (2023, Private, Syari)
19.
Sikkim Sardar Patel University, 2023 (Private, Mikhola)
20.
National Council for Skill Education Sikkim (2023, Private, Gangtok)
21.
EdTech Skills University (2023, Private, Jorethang
22.
Orchid University, 2024, Private, Mangan)
23.
Gurukul Vidhyapeeth University (2024, Private, Melli)
24.
Matrix Skilltech University (2024, Private, Geyzing)
25.
Duke International University (2024, Private, Namchi)
26.
Sikkim Medical Science University (2024, Private, Namchi)
27.
Management and Information Technology University (2024, Private, Melli)
28.
Shri Rukmani Dwarkadhish University of Science and Technology (2024, Private,
Gangtok)
29.
Sikkim Pannadhay University (2024, Private)
30.
The Nirmala Devi University (2024, Private)
31.
Swastik University, 2025, Private
32.
Trident University of Applied Sciences (2025, Private)
33.
Shri Venkateswara University (2025, Private)
34.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Skill University (2025, Private )
35.
The Sengol International University (2025, Private)
36.
The Fusion University Sikkim (2025, Private)
The
promoters of these private universities, trusts, NGOs, societies, and private
companies often lack experience in the field of education. Some of these
promoters have little to no prior experience running educational institutions,
with backgrounds ranging from computer centres to controversial ventures in
other states. The authorized capital of many of these universities is as low as
one lakh rupees. Our concern is not with the establishment of private
universities but with the quality of education being compromised. If private
universities must be brought to Sikkim by the Government, why not get those
with proven excellence?
Does Sikkim need so many Private Universities?
Each
year, around 8,000 students appear for the Class XII exam in Sikkim. Government
colleges in the state offer 4,400 seats annually, and approximately 10-20
percent of students prefer to pursue higher education outside the state.
Private universities such as SRM, SMU, ICFAI, SPU, and private colleges in the
state absorb a significant number of these students. This raises the question:
does Sikkim really need 28 additional private universities? With the existing
colleges and universities catering to most of the state’s higher education
needs, these 28 new universities may not get enough students from the state.
Furthermore, given their lack of experience and subpar infrastructure, it is
doubtful that these universities will attract students from outside the state.
The
current Government proudly claims that these private universities bring
affordable higher education to the youth of Sikkim, especially those from
remote corners of the state. However, one must recognize that many of these
private universities are profit-driven institutions, with their courses often
costing more than most students can afford. It is not uncommon to see students
seeking financial help from the Hon’ble Chief Minister during public meetings
to pay their tuition fees. What Sikkim truly needs is more government colleges
so that youth from poorer families can at least earn a degree in this highly
competitive and expensive world.
Concerns over Quality of Education
Sikkim
University, a central university often referred to as the “longest” university
due to its spread from Ranipool to Tibet Road, has been operational for 17
years. Despite spending over a thousand crore rupees, it struggles to break
into the top 200 universities in the NIRF rankings. While Sikkim University
still cannot offer courses in engineering, medicine, and many other
professional fields of studies, even with 17 years of experience and spending
over a thousand crores, the recently established private universities with
authorized capital as low as one lakh rupees offering courses in these fields
raise doubt over the quality of education, they claim to impart.
Interestingly,
the former Vice-Chancellor of Sikkim University, now serving as the economic
advisor to the Government of Sikkim, strongly opposed the mushrooming of
universities in the state when there were only five private universities. Yet,
under his guidance, Sikkim has witnessed the rapid rise of private
universities. While he previously held a different perspective during his
tenure as Vice-Chancellor of a central university, it is common to see him
encouraging private universities through his participation in their convocations
and other functions.
While
at Sikkim University, I encountered frequent requests through RTI for
verification of degrees issued by ELIM University. What was striking was that
these requests came primarily from the degree holders themselves, as if they
were checking the authenticity of the degrees they bought. Many regions in
India have lost their credibility due to substandard universities and practices
of selling degrees by them. Let us hope Sikkim does not face a similar fate.
The
issue is not the establishment of private universities but the rapid and
unchecked growth of institutions with little experience. This raises doubts in
the minds of the general public. If the Government aims to make Sikkim a hub of
higher education, as claimed in the Chief Minister’s budget speech for 2025-26,
the focus should be on quality over quantity. Let us all hope that the universities
established under the current administration succeed in providing world-class education to our youth
and fulfill the purpose for which they are brought to the state.
(Views
are personal)
