New private universities in Assam will need ‘national security’ clearance: CM Himanta Sarma

New private universities in Assam will require a “national security” clearance from the state government, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.

The institutes would also need to undergo “periodic inspections to ensure full adherence to the secular principles of our Constitution”, the chief minister said.

Sarma added that the universities would also be required to “confirm that they are not directly or indirectly involved in religious conversion”.

The clearance would be provided by the state’s home department.

Assam has taken another landmark decision to protect national security interests. Anyone seeking to establish a private university or any technical or medical educational institution must obtain clearance from the Home Department from a national security perspective.… https://t.co/RCwPPtdewW— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 5, 2025

The chief minister said that violation of the rules could lead to the license of those universities being revoked, the Hindustan Times reported.

Sarma said the Cabinet’s decision on Tuesday to amend the 2007 Assam Private Universities Act was prompted by the controversy involving the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya and its Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque, The Indian Express reported.

Sarma has previously made disparaging remarks about Hoque and the institute.

In August, Sarma said that he was looking into the possibility of restricting students who graduate from the USTM, which is located in neighbouring Meghalaya, from competing for roles in the state government.

The statement...

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