Private varsities will have to admit 50% students from state

Those planning to set up private universities in the state will now have to follow a new mandatory condition - they will have to provide 50% of seats to students from Karnataka. Otherwise the state government will not provide them private university status.

Apart from the six existing educational institutions, which have applied for private university status, the state higher education department is getting at least two applications a month in this regard.

Reacting to this a higher education department source told DNA, “Even after the state cabinet clearance for the six existing institutions, we have kept the issue on hold because they are not willing to provide 50% seats to students from state.”

“Higher education minister has insisted that they have to agree to this condition. The minister will have a meeting with managements of the institutions, which have applied for private status,” the source added.

Institutions and trusts willing to set up private university need to approach the State Higher Education Council. “We have some  procedures to follow while submitting applications. One cannot go blindly and submit them to the government. The process must be done only through us,” said Prof KM Kaveriappa, executive director, Karnataka State Higher Education Council.

As per the data available with the council, they are receiving many applications. “In the last two months at least four institutions have approached us,” Kaveriappa said.

Rule applies to Alliance, Azim Premji
The rule of providing 50% seats to students from Karnataka will also apply to the two existing private universities in the state - Alliance University and Azim Premji University.

According to the officials, even the act of these universities will be amended once the rule is finalised.

As per the existing acts, these universities have to provide 25% of their seats to Karnataka students. Each private university will have their own act and the state higher education department has the authority to frame it.