Jammu and Kashmir opens higher education to private sector

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Saturday passed a bill allowing establishment of private universities in the union territory. Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, who introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Private Universities Bill 2026, said the bill will promote the development of higher education in J&K and many students will benefit from it.The bill also aims to regulate the operations, management and academic standards of private universities “to ensure the quality of education and protect the interests of students”.The minister rejected suggestions that proposed colleges should provide quota for students from below poverty line and reserved categories, saying the move would deter private investors.Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah of North Carolina called the bill historic. “We have been demanding this for a long time,” he said, adding, “Every year thousands of students travel outside J&K for education, draining our economy.”