At an event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, party president Anil Tiwari delivered his first public statement on the continuing student agitation over the proposed deemed-to-be university, firmly endorsing the administration’s stance on the issue.
The remarks come amid sustained demonstrations by island students opposing the proposed restructuring of higher education. Tiwari alleged that certain opposition elements are shaping student perceptions against the proposal and urged stakeholders to prioritise informed academic dialogue over political posturing.
He argued that long-term reliance on external academic affiliations may prove unsustainable. Referring to the current arrangement with institutions such as Pondicherry University, he suggested that affiliated colleges may eventually need to establish independent academic systems, positioning a deemed university framework as a pragmatic institutional alternative.
Linking education policy with economic advancement, Tiwari pointed to upcoming infrastructure expansion and tourism-driven projects that, he said, will demand specialised expertise and contemporary professional training. A locally structured university, he maintained, could introduce forward-looking courses aligned with emerging employment trends.
He also raised concerns about what he described as outdated syllabus frameworks under external affiliations, noting that some academic structures date back decades. Emphasising evolving sectors such as artificial intelligence, he argued that modernised curricula would better equip students for competitive job markets.
Recalling earlier academic challenges, he cited delays in result declarations under existing affiliations that affected students seeking admissions elsewhere. Such concerns, he said, had previously intensified calls for an independent university framework in the islands.
Addressing apprehensions over governance and finances, he stated that the proposed institution would operate with government funding rather than private control and would bear the name of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
He further noted that, in programmes such as polytechnic education, fees have remained stable with continued government grants, adding that earlier concerns about possible hikes had been clarified by authorities. He also referenced prior assurances regarding certification continuity for students under a deemed university framework.
Highlighting employment implications, Tiwari warned that forthcoming development initiatives could generate substantial job opportunities, but without updated local academic programmes, candidates from outside the islands might secure those positions. He framed the deemed university debate as part of a broader, forward-looking discussion on aligning higher education with the islands’ evolving economic and professional landscape.
