Private Varsity Trustee Boards: Max 5 from Same Family Under New Law Draft
No more than five members from the same family will be allowed on the trustee boards of private universities, as per the draft of the amended Private University Act-2025. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has prepared the draft to bring regulation in board formation, ensuring diversity, transparency and accountability.
The draft stipulates that each trustee board must have a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 15 members. The provision has been added to limit family dominance and prevent conflict of interest, UGC sources said.
The issue was discussed in detail at the commission's 57th meeting on October 23. Besides capping family members, the meeting proposed measures to balance leadership in the boards.
The draft also includes several other changes in university establishment, operation and appointment processes. These are: formation of UGC-led search committees for appointing vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors and treasurers; mandatory possession of at least 5 acres of land for setting up a university; and compulsory UGC approval for determining tuition fees.
Stakeholders say the objective of the new draft is to ensure accountability in the administration and financial management of private universities. Excessive family members on boards create conflict of interest—this provision is being introduced to prevent that.
At present, there are 116 approved private universities in the country, of which classes are being held in 105. The number of students is over 3.58 lakh. UGC hopes that once the amended law comes into effect, the administrative structure of the universities will be strengthened and the culture of monopolistic control will reduce.
