Sri Vijaya Puram, May 15: A renewed demand for a full-fledged Central University in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has intensified after Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray urged the Lieutenant Governor to formally recommend the proposal to the Government of India, rejecting the alternative “Deemed to be University” model.
In a representation submitted on May 7, the MP called for the establishment of a Central University through an Act of Parliament, arguing that the current proposal to bring seven colleges under a deemed university structure has triggered widespread opposition across the Islands. The issue has emerged as a significant public concern, particularly among students and academic stakeholders who have questioned the long-term implications of the proposed model.
Ray outlined that he had previously raised the matter with the Prime Minister in December 2025 and again in February 2026, alongside discussions with the Union Education Minister during a meeting earlier this year. He stated that the demand for a Central University reflects a consistent and unified position from across the Islands.
The MP pointed to a series of protests held between February 1 and 20, 2026, including demonstrations at Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM) in Sri Vijaya Puram and Mahatma Gandhi College in Mayabunder. An Andaman Bandh observed on February 16 further underscored the scale of public mobilisation around the issue.
According to the representation, Ray conducted visits to multiple colleges between February 20 and 25, where he interacted with students, faculty members and other stakeholders. He reported that there was unanimous support for establishing a Central University through parliamentary legislation, rather than adopting the deemed university framework.
The MP also raised the issue in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour on March 23, pressing for a policy shift aligned with recent developments in other states and Union Territories where Central Universities have been established. He further met senior officials from the Ministry of Education, including the Secretary, on March 24 to reiterate the demand.
Despite these efforts, Ray expressed concern that reports submitted by the Union Territory Administration to the Centre did not adequately reflect the scale of public sentiment or the intensity of opposition to the deemed university proposal. He argued that this gap risks undermining the educational aspirations of the Islands’ population.
In his latest communication, the MP urged the Lieutenant Governor to re-examine the issue and forward a comprehensive proposal advocating for a Central University through legislative action. He maintained that such an institution would better serve the long-term academic and developmental needs of the region.
The demand for a Central University has increasingly become a focal point in the Islands’ education discourse, highlighting concerns over institutional autonomy, quality of higher education and equitable access for students in geographically isolated regions.
The Administration’s response to the latest request remains awaited.
