Nearly nine months after the J&K Government announced its intention to invite renowned private universities to set up satellite campuses in the Union Territory, the proposal remains frozen in place-without a draft policy, without a task force, and without even preliminary consultations. What was projected as a transformative reform for youth aspirations, economic diversification and academic modernisation risks slipping into the long list of well-intentioned but unimplemented announcements. This inertia is all the more perplexing because the environment in J&K has changed dramatically. For decades, J&K struggled to attract industrialists or education entrepreneurs, largely due to its disturbed security landscape. Today, the situation is markedly different. With near-normalcy restored and thousands of crores pouring in as industrial investment, the region has demonstrated that investors are ready-provided the Government offers clarity, stability and a viable policy framework.
Education, unfortunately, has not kept pace with this shift. Despite the commendable performance of Jammu University and Kashmir University, both institutions face structural and financial limitations. Many long-running courses have outlived their relevance in a rapidly evolving global job market. Introducing cutting-edge programmes requires infrastructure, regulatory agility, specialised faculty and sustained funding-areas where public universities inevitably face constraints. Private universities, on the other hand, have demonstrated remarkable flexibility and innovation. Manipal University, for instance, has expanded across states and introduced futuristic courses aligned with industry needs. Leading private institutions regularly upgrade curricula, invest in high-end laboratories, develop global partnerships and create start-up ecosystems-actions that enable them to offer better career pathways to students. It is no surprise that even for basic undergraduate degrees, thousands of J&K youth today prefer Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune or Chandigarh, where exposure, internships and placement ecosystems are significantly stronger.
This ongoing academic migration represents a slow but steady brain drain. Students leave for opportunities, and most do not return. The Government’s decision in March to invite top private universities was therefore both timely and strategically important. Yet nine months later, there has been no committee formation, no policy draft, no roadmap for land allotment, and no dialogue with institutions that had shown initial interest.
The root challenge, as experience with industrial zones, IIT Jammu, IIM Jammu, AIIMS, and Medicity projects has shown, is land acquisition and administrative sluggishness. Unless these bottlenecks are addressed through a fast-track mechanism, even the best policies will remain paper exercises. For private universities, land is the starting point. A clear, transparent land-allotment mechanism-backed by incentives, regulatory facilitation and time-bound approvals-is essential if J&K hopes to attract quality players. Examples from Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgaon show how education hubs can be developed when policies, land banks and infrastructure converge. These regions host clusters of universities, engineering colleges, skill institutes and research centres that collectively generate tens of thousands of jobs. Education is, in fact, among the largest employment generators in any state-directly through teaching and administrative jobs, and indirectly through housing, transport, food services, retail, consultancy and start-ups. Every new campus becomes an economic engine.
J&K cannot afford to miss this opportunity. With traditional crafts and older employment avenues saturated, and with public-sector jobs shrinking, the need for diversified employment sources is urgent. Establishing private university campuses in J&K would not only curb the exodus of students but also spark a local ecosystem of innovation, research and entrepreneurship. Moreover, it would democratise access to quality education for thousands of students who cannot afford to relocate.
The Government must treat this not as a routine administrative task but as an opportunity with long-term economic and social dividends. A clear policy, a land bank dedicated to educational institutions, a high-level nodal committee, and active engagement with leading private universities are the minimum steps required. Policies-not announcements-define the progress of any region. The raw material for success is already present: talent, demographic advantage, improved security, and a Government that has shown ambition in industrial development. What remains is the will to execute. J&K must act with urgency, clarity and purpose. The time for implementation has begun, and the J&K Government, with a focused approach, can achieve it.
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