Green light for 'cash-cow' courses: Kerala relaxes rules for autonomous colleges

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has granted major relaxations to autonomous colleges in Kerala, issuing fresh guidelines for the introduction of self-financing courses. The Higher Education Department has decided to do away with the practice of renewing approvals every year and instead issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) once every three years.

Under the new guidelines, self-financing autonomous colleges and the self-financing streams of aided autonomous colleges will no longer require prior government approval to introduce new self-financing courses or increase seats in such courses. They will only have to inform the government in advance. However, the relaxation does not extend to all colleges or courses. Government approval will continue to be mandatory for introducing new courses under the aided stream in government, aided and autonomous colleges, as well as for permanent seat increases in aided courses.

A circular issued by the Additional Secretary of the Higher Education Department has been forwarded to all universities in the state and the Director of Collegiate Education.

For increasing seats in existing self-financing courses, the respective universities or regulatory authorities can take a decision without requiring separate government approval. Under the new rules, colleges must pay a challan fee of Rs 650 per course and an affidavit fee of Rs 810 for the NOC, with both payments covering a three-year period. Colleges granted approval for the 2026-27 academic year need only remit the fees for 2027-28 and 2028-29 when renewing their approval in 2029-30, the circular states.

Universities must mandatorily report details of new courses and seat increases to the government after completing the admission process in each academic year. However, specific government approval will still be required for matters not covered by existing regulations and in situations where government intervention or a review of decisions taken by universities or regulatory bodies is necessary.

The decision has drawn strong criticism from Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan. He said the government's move would provide autonomous colleges with an opportunity to reap huge profits.