{"id":153160,"date":"2025-01-27T20:40:51","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T15:10:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=editorial-analysis&#038;p=153160"},"modified":"2025-01-27T20:40:51","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T15:10:51","slug":"chancellors-of-state-universities","status":"publish","type":"editorial-analysis","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/chancellors-of-state-universities","title":{"rendered":"Should Governors be Chancellors of State Universities?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, the <\/span><b>Governor\u2019s role as Chancellor of State<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> universities has become politicized, eroding autonomy and causing governance issues, particularly in Opposition-led States.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Background of Governor\u2019s Role<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Colonial Origins <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The British established the first three universities in 1857 in\u00a0 <\/span><b>Calcutta<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Bombay<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>Madras<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, appointing the Governors of the respective presidencies as their <\/span><b>ex-officio Chancellors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Objective: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The primary goal was to maintain <\/span><b>direct control<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over universities, restricting their autonomy rather than promoting it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Adoption Without Reassessment: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After Independence, the colonial model of the Governor as Chancellor was <\/span><b>adopted for State universities <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">without considering its relevance in a <\/span><b>democratic and federal context<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This decision was made despite the absence of any <\/span><b>constitutional provision <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">assigning this <\/span><b>role to the Governor.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Key Responsibilities of Governors as Chancellors<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Appointment of Vice-Chancellors: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Governor, as Chancellor, holds the authority to <\/span><b>appoint<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> university heads.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nominating Syndicate Members: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governors nominate members to key university bodies, such as the <\/span><b>syndicate or executive council.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Approval of University Statutes: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They <\/span><b>approve statutes and regulations,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which govern the<\/span><b> functioning of universities.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Convocations:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Presiding over <\/span><b>convocations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Challenges of the Current System<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dominance of the Congress Party: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During this period, the <\/span><b>Congress party\u2019s dominance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at both the Centre and State levels ensured that Governors remained largely <\/span><b>ceremonial figures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Chief Ministers wielded real power<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, leaving little room for Governors to <\/span><b>interfere i<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">n university affairs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Continuity of Colonial Provisions: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There was no significant political impetus to amend the <\/span><b>colonial-era role of Governors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as Chancellors, as their function was perceived as neutral and non-contentious.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Politicisation of Governor\u2019s role:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The political landscape changed after <\/span><b>1967<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with several States being governed by parties outside th<\/span><b>e ruling coalition at the Centre.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governors transitioned from <\/span><b>neutral constitutional functionaries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to <\/span><b>political instruments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Central government.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Conflicting Authorities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Governors began asserting control over university matters, leading to frequent clashes with<\/span><b> opposition-led State governments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Efforts to amend university laws to change the Chancellor\u2019s role faced resistance, as Governors either:<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Delayed approvals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of amendments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Referred them to the <\/span><b>President<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, further stalling reforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lack of Legislative Oversight: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike the President, the Governor\u2019s actions as Chancellor are not subject to scrutiny by the State Legislature. This flaw is rooted in the <\/span><b>continuation of colonial-era practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which were designed to centralize control.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Conflicts in Opposition-Ruled States: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governors\u2019 unilateral actions often lead to administrative conflicts, particularly when the State government is led by a party opposed to the ruling coalition at the Centre.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lack of Accountability: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While State governments fund universities, Governors wield substantial powers without corresponding accountability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Conflicting Demands: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">University leadership often finds itself navigating between the authority of the Governor and the State government, leading to administrative complexities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Delays in Appointments: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disagreements between Governors and State governments, particularly in <\/span><b>Opposition-ruled States<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, result in delays in appointing Vice-Chancellors.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Impact on University Operations: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delayed decisions affect:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Staff recruitment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementation of university projects.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Awarding of degrees.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lack of Academic Expertise: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many Governors lack the necessary <\/span><b>qualifications or experience<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to guide educational institutions effectively. Their decisions often rely on <\/span><b>limited and non-transparent advice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, leading to questionable outcomes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Political Interference: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of insulating universities from politics, some Governors exacerbate <\/span><b>political interference<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by prioritizing the Centre\u2019s political agenda over the universities\u2019 autonomy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Violation of Federal Principles: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governors, as appointees of the Centre, wield control over <\/span><b>State-funded universities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, undermining the principle of <\/span><b>federalism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This compromises the autonomy of State governments in managing their educational institutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Criticism of Politicisation of Governor\u2019s Role<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966\u201377): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Commission criticised the growing <\/span><b>politicisation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Governor\u2019s office.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It highlighted the appointment of <\/span><b>defeated politicians<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the position, which eroded the dignity and neutrality of the office.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Findings of the Sarkaria Commission (1983\u201388): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State Relations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> revealed that over <\/span><b>60% of Governors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> had been active politicians, many of them<\/span><b> immediately before their appointment.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The quality of appointments to the Governor\u2019s office declined <\/span><b>steeply after the Nehru era<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, undermining its credibility.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Recent Study: Professor Ashok Pankaj\u2019s Study (1950\u20132015) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">found:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>52% of Governors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were politicians.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>26% were retired bureaucrats.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only <\/span><b>22% hailed from academia, the judiciary, or the armed forces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This trend highlighted the increasing preference for appointing Governors based on <\/span><b>political loyalty<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, further exacerbating <\/span><b>misuse of the office.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Powers of Governors<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>As Governor (Constitutional Role): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bound to act on the advice of the <\/span><b>Council of Ministers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as per <\/span><b>Article 163(1)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Constitution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>As Chancellor (Statutory Role): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Powers are conferred by <\/span><b>State University laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, allowing the Governor to act independently unless the <\/span><b>statute mandates<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ministerial advice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Discretionary Role as Chancellor: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court has upheld that Governors can exercise discretion in university matters, such as:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Appointing Vice-Chancellors.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Nominating members to university bodies.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Approving subordinate legislation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under university laws<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bypassing Ministerial Advice: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governors have used their discretionary powers to bypass the State\u2019s Council of Ministers in critical decisions, particularly in <\/span><b>Opposition-ruled States<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This practice has often led to <\/span><b>conflicts between Governors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and State governments<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Governor vs. President in University Governance<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Role of the President as Visitor: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The President serves as the <\/span><b>Visitor of Central Universities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under central university laws. The President\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operates through the <\/span><b>Ministry of Education<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consults the<\/span><b> Ministry for appointments,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> nominations, and approval of statutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delegated legislation (statutes, ordinances, and regulations) must be <\/span><b>laid before Parliament<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ensuring <\/span><b>legislative oversight<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Role of the Governor as Chancellor: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acts <\/span><b>unilaterally<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in matters related to State universities. Often bypasses the State\u2019s <\/span><b>Ministry of Higher Education<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> entirely.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delegated legislation in State universities <\/span><b>(statutes, ordinances, and regulations) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is <\/span><b>not mandated<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be laid before the State Legislature, leading to a<\/span><b> lack of oversight.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Key Recommendations by Various Commissions<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rajamannar Committee (1969-71): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appointed by the Government of Tamil Nadu to examine Centre-State relations. The Governor\u2019s <\/span><b>statutory functions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as Chancellor should be included within the scope of <\/span><b>\u2018functions\u2019 under Article 163(1)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Governor should perform his role as Chancellor <\/span><b>on the advice of the State government<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The Supreme Court has not upheld this interpretation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sarkaria Commission (1983-88): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Centre-State relations and the statutory nature of the Governor&#8217;s<\/span><b> role as Chancellor.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Governor\u2019s role as Chancellor is <\/span><b>statutory<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, not constitutional, and is defined by <\/span><b>State laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governors should <\/span><b>consult with Chief Ministers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while retaining <\/span><b>independent judgment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in university matters.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000-02): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Governor\u2019s role should be redefined to ensure <\/span><b>political neutrality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><b>clearer definition of the Chancellor\u2019s functions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is necessary to reduce ambiguity. The Governor\u2019s role should be <\/span><b>supportive, not authoritative<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, to promote greater university autonomy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>M.M. Punchhi Commission (2007-10): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthening Centre-State relations and redefining the Governor\u2019s role.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Governor should focus on <\/span><b>constitutional responsibilities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, avoiding <\/span><b>statutory roles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like that of Chancellor to maintain the dignity of the office.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">States should appoint <\/span><b>eminent academics or experts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as Chancellors to ensure academic independence and <\/span><b>minimize conflicts.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Reform Models<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Global Examples:\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>United Kingdom (UK): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Edinburgh elect ceremonial Chancellors with no executive powers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Canada and Australia: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Universities such as McGill (Canada) and Melbourne (Australia) appoint ceremonial Chancellors through <\/span><b>Executive Councils or Boards of Governors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ensuring transparent processes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ceremonial Chancellor <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Removes the discretionary powers of the Governor, mandating that they act on the advice of the <\/span><b>State Council of Ministers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Examples: Gujarat (1978), Karnataka (2000), Maharashtra (2021):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Adopted variations of this approach to limit the Governor\u2019s executive role.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chief Minister as Chancellor: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfers the role of Chancellor to the <\/span><b>Chief Minister<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to strengthen accountability to the State government. Critics argue that a <\/span><b>powerful political figure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like the Chief Minister does not suit the ceremonial nature of the role.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>West Bengal and Punjab (2023):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Passed Bills to adopt this system; Presidential <\/span><b>assent is pending.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Tamil Nadu (2022):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Passed a Bill substituting<\/span><b> \u2018Government\u2019 for \u2018Chancellor\u2019;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> awaiting Presidential assent.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>State-Appointed Chancellor: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The State government appoints a ceremonial Chancellor, typically an <\/span><b>eminent academician or public figure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, excluding politicians.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Examples: Telangana (2015):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Successfully implemented this model.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Kerala (2022):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Passed a Bill specifying that the appointee must be a <\/span><b>distinguished academician or public figure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; awaiting Presidential assent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>M.M. Punchhi Commission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> advocated this model as the most practical for India.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Way Forward<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Accountability to State Governments;: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Universities should be directly accountable to <\/span><b>elected State governments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ensuring decisions align with local priorities and public interests.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Minimizing Political Interference: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reforms must reduce the risk of <\/span><b>political bias<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in university administration by excluding Governors or <\/span><b>politically motivated individuals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from decision-making roles.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promoting Institutional Self-Governance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Universities must have the autonomy to make decisions about academic and administrative matters without undue external influence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Successful Implementation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">States like <\/span><b>Gujarat (1978), Karnataka (2000), Telangana (2015), and Maharashtra (2021)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have successfully redefined the Governor\u2019s role, reducing discretionary powers and aligning university governance with<\/span><b> democratic principles.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Centre should facilitate progressive reforms that seek to <\/span><b>dismantle colonial-era administrative structures,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> guide States towards aligning the<\/span><b>ir university governance models with global best practices.<\/b><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.8996%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Mains Practice Question:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/analyze-its-relevance-in-a-federal-india-and-suggest-measures-to-address-these-issues\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q. The role of the Governor as Chancellor of State universities, rooted in colonial-era practices, has become increasingly politicised, undermining university autonomy and causing governance challenges. Critically analyze its relevance in a federal India and suggest measures to address these issues. (15 Marks, 250 Words)<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><b><i>Ready to boost your UPSC 2025 preparation?<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><i>Join PW&#8217;s UPSC online courses<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> today!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Also Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Editorials<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/daily-current-affairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Current Affairs<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Daily Current Affairs Quiz<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Daily Main Answer Writing<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-previous-year-papers?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Previous+Year+Papers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out Previous Years Papers From PW Store<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-test-series-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Test Series<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Governor\u2019s role as Chancellor of State universities has become politicized, eroding autonomy and causing governance issues, particularly in Opposition-led States.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":153086,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[],"subject":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/153160"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/editorial-analysis"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153160"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/153160\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":153163,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/153160\/revisions\/153163"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=153160"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=153160"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=153160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}