Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot Calls for Enhanced Budgetary Support for Higher Education

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot urges the state government to provide increased financial backing for higher education in the upcoming budget. He highlights the need for sustained support and filling vacancies in key universities to enhance educational quality.

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has called for increased financial support for the Higher Education department in the state's upcoming budget. During the Karnataka State Public Universities Vice Chancellors Conference–2026, he emphasised the need for structured financial backing for public universities. The event was organised by Lok Bhavan in partnership with the Higher Education department and the Karnataka Higher Education Council.

The Governor highlighted the limited internal revenue sources of universities, stressing the necessity for special financial attention and structured budgetary support. He appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ensure that the March 6 State Budget prioritises higher education. Gehlot expressed satisfaction with the Chief Minister's participation in the conference and voiced optimism that higher education would be a key focus in the forthcoming budget.

Focus on Institutional Development

Governor Gehlot urged filling long-standing vacancies at institutions like Karnataka State Dr Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Kannada University, Karnataka Janapada University, and Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics University. He also called for adequate financial provisions for their development. Emphasising government universities' strengthening, he noted that conference discussions indicated Karnataka's readiness to advance higher education.

The Governor stressed increasing admissions in government institutions and investigating why students often choose private universities despite their higher fees. He also highlighted the importance of adhering to academic calendars to ensure timely admissions, examinations, and result declarations. Improved coordination between Vice Chancellors and Registrars was identified as a priority.

Enhancing Academic Quality

Gehlot emphasised upskilling academic staff, updating curricula to meet current needs, and introducing job-oriented courses. He highlighted campus development, focusing on improving quality, cleanliness, and greenery. Initiatives like "One Tree for Mother" were encouraged for active implementation. Additionally, he urged universities to promote sports participation so students can represent their institutions at various levels.

On governance and transparency, Gehlot pressed for strict compliance with central and UGC guidelines within set timelines. He stressed that institutional credibility relies on resolving internal disputes democratically and maintaining transparency in financial matters. The Chancellor must foster harmony among stakeholders to avoid unnecessary inquiries and administrative disruptions.

International Collaborations and Cultural Heritage

The Governor suggested expanding international collaborations for academic and student exchange programs to enhance national rankings. Addressing faculty shortages and infrastructure gaps was also recommended. Leveraging central schemes and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds was proposed as a way to bridge financial constraints with state support.

Gehlot advocated for promoting cultural heritage by suggesting Indian traditional dress as uniform attire during annual convocation ceremonies. The conference began with renditions of "Vande Mataram," "Jana Gana Mana," and "Naada Geethe." Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar welcomed participants and outlined the conference's objectives. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar were among those present at the event.

With inputs from PTI