The proposal to transition a higher education institution in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from affiliation under Pondicherry University to deemed-to-be university status has triggered concern and debate across the Islands. Students are worried about fees. Parents are anxious about degree value. Faculty members are seeking clarity on service conditions. At first glance, the change appears technical. In reality, it represents a structural shift in governance, funding and institutional autonomy.
India’s higher education system recognises both Central Universities and Institutions Deemed to be Universities under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956. Both categories award legally valid degrees and operate within the same national regulatory framework. However, they differ significantly in how they are established, funded and governed.
What Is the Difference?
Central universities are created through an Act of Parliament and function as publicly funded institutions under direct central government and UGC oversight. They receive stable financial grants that support infrastructure, faculty salaries, research activities and student services. Governance structures are defined by statute, and administrative processes follow established regulatory channels.
Deemed-to-be universities, by contrast, receive recognition under Section 3 of the UGC Act through a Central Government notification based on recommendations of the UGC. This status is granted to institutions that demonstrate strong academic standards, infrastructure and specialised or multidisciplinary excellence. They operate with significantly greater academic and administrative autonomy but typically rely more on internal revenue sources and performance-driven funding models.
Importantly, deemed university status in itself does not imply inferior academic standing. Some of India’s most globally recognised institutions function within autonomous academic frameworks. Institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Management and the Indian Institutes of Technology are globally respected centres of excellence. Therefore, from a recognition standpoint, there is no structural reason for students to fear that degrees issued under a deemed university framework would lack national validity or professional acceptance. However, in the initial years of transition, institutions sometimes face perception challenges, and some employers may take time to assess the academic credibility of the new structure. That transitional uncertainty is real and should be acknowledged rather than dismissed.
Why Is the Transition Being Proposed?
Such transitions are typically undertaken to grant institutions greater autonomy. Deemed status allows faster introduction of new courses, more flexible academic structures and the ability to respond quickly to emerging educational needs.
In the context of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, this flexibility could prove strategically important. The Islands possess unique ecological, maritime and socio-cultural characteristics that are not always fully reflected in mainland-centric academic frameworks. Greater autonomy could enable the institution to develop programmes tailored to marine sciences, coastal ecology, climate resilience, disaster management, sustainable tourism and tribal studies, aligning academic growth with the Islands’ developmental priorities.
At the same time, policy reform of this magnitude requires clear communication. Without transparency regarding objectives and safeguards, reform risks being perceived as administrative restructuring rather than academic empowerment.
The Fee Question: The Biggest Concern
The most immediate concern in any transition to deemed university status is financial. Central university-affiliated institutions benefit from government subsidies that help maintain relatively low tuition fees. Many deemed universities across India operate on self-financing models, which have in several cases resulted in higher costs for students.
Administrative authorities in the Islands have assured that the existing fee structure will remain unchanged despite the proposed shift. This assurance is significant. For many families in the Islands, higher education affordability is already constrained by geographic isolation and limited institutional options. If the commitment to maintain current fee levels is upheld, the most immediate financial anxiety stands substantially addressed.
However, another concern has emerged among students who enrolled under the understanding that they would graduate with degrees awarded under the Pondicherry University umbrella. For those already midway through their academic programmes, the prospect of graduating under a different institutional framework has created uncertainty and apprehension.
What Could Change for Students?
If fee stability is maintained, the principal impact of the transition may be academic rather than financial. As a deemed university, the institution could introduce multidisciplinary and skill-based programmes more swiftly, collaborate more flexibly with industry and research bodies, and redesign curricula in alignment with national education reforms.
In the Islands’ context, this could translate into expanded academic offerings in marine biodiversity research, coastal ecology, climate adaptation, disaster response, sustainable island development and indigenous knowledge systems. Done effectively, such initiatives could strengthen the academic identity of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at a national level.
Admissions procedures may also see structural adjustments, as deemed universities often enjoy flexibility in designing intake mechanisms within UGC guidelines. However, degrees would remain nationally recognised provided regulatory norms and accreditation standards continue to be met. Regulatory oversight does not disappear under deemed status; quality benchmarks remain central to institutional legitimacy.
What About Faculty?
Faculty members currently operate within the structured framework of central university affiliation, including UGC pay scales, research grant access and defined service conditions. Deemed status may introduce greater autonomy in academic planning, faster programme approvals and opportunities to establish specialised research centres relevant to the Islands’ ecological and socio-economic context.
At the same time, concerns have been raised that increased local control could lead to tighter bureaucratic oversight. Both students and faculty have expressed apprehension that academic processes may become more directly influenced by administrative authorities. Academic freedom, evaluation integrity and independence of institutional functioning must remain protected. If students choose to question institutional policies or engage in peaceful dissent, safeguards must ensure that academic outcomes are not compromised. Confidence in the new framework will depend on visible and enforceable protections.
Institutional Autonomy vs Public Funding
The transition represents a shift from a centrally funded governance model to a more autonomous institutional structure. Central affiliation prioritises stability, statutory oversight and structured administrative safeguards. Deemed status prioritises flexibility, institutional initiative and adaptive growth.
Neither model is inherently superior. The success of either depends on leadership credibility, financial discipline, transparency and adherence to regulatory standards. UGC oversight and accreditation requirements continue to apply to deemed institutions, and status can be revoked if academic and administrative benchmarks are not maintained.
The Wave Andaman’s View
The Wave Andaman believes that reform in itself is not the issue. Opacity is.
Students who are already enrolled under Pondicherry University affiliation must be allowed to complete their degrees under the same Pondicherry University framework. They enrolled with a legitimate academic expectation, and that expectation should be honoured. Altering the awarding university midway through their programme risks undermining trust and creating avoidable uncertainty.
At the same time, new academic sessions should commence strictly under the deemed university structure. Incoming students must be given full clarity at the time of admission, enabling them to make an informed decision about whether to pursue their education in the Islands or explore opportunities elsewhere in India. A phased transition protects current students while allowing institutional reform to proceed responsibly.
The Wave Andaman unequivocally calls upon the Andaman and Nicobar administration to immediately release a detailed white paper on the proposed transition. This document must transparently lay out the framework for appointing the Vice Chancellor, the academic and administrative credentials required for leadership positions, the composition and independence of governing bodies, financial safeguards, student grievance redressal mechanisms, and clear guarantees protecting academic freedom and evaluation integrity. A reform of this magnitude cannot proceed on verbal assurances alone. It must proceed on documented transparency and public accountability.
