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)