There is an old Chinese saying: “May you live in interesting times.” Surely, we do live in such times. The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has passed the Private Universities Bill (L.A. Bill No. 08 of 2026) with the stated aim of reducing student migration and strengthening the local education ecosystem. Coincidentally, this is also a time when two important reports—the Azim Premji University Study (2026) and Careers 360 Study (2026)—have entered the public domain, both directly relevant to the higher education system in India.

This write-up is a modest attempt to understand the need for private universities at a time when the number of all kinds of  public universities has increased at tremendous cost to the taxpayer and many such universities have academic programmes with no takers. Furthermore, private universities are making their entry at a time when students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are increasingly disengaging from higher education.

The Bill states: “A Bill to provide for the establishment and incorporation of private universities in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and to regulate their funding, management, and academic standards, ensuring quality education and protecting the interests of students. “The education minister, Mrs. Sakina Yatoo, assured the House that the government had taken into consideration all relevant issues and concerns related to higher education before formulating the Bill. The Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah, described it as a “milestone” that would position Jammu and Kashmir as an emerging hub of higher education and academic excellence.

So far, so good. However, it is necessary to pause and reflect on public concerns and expectations regarding the government’s policy of encouraging private players in higher education. Before doing so, it is important to examine two widely discussed reports that highlight key issues in the domains of higher education and employment.

The State of Working India 2026 Report

The Azim Premji University Report (2026) highlights a widening gap between education and job creation. India’s youth population (aged 15–29) stands at 36.7 crore. The unemployment rate is approximately 40% for the 15–25 age group and 20% for those aged 25–29. Only 7% of young graduates secure........

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