SRINAGAR: Chowdry Muhammad Ramzan on Tuesday hailed the passage of the Private Universities Bill, 2026 in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, describing it as a landmark reform that will transform the higher education landscape of the Union Territory.
In a statement issued from the party headquarters, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference office at Nawa-e-Subha, Ramzan said the legislation would strengthen academic infrastructure, diversify institutions and promote knowledge-based economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir.
Calling the bill a “game-changer” for the education sector, the Rajya Sabha member said it would help reduce the migration of local students outside the Union Territory by making quality higher education available within Jammu and Kashmir.
“This progressive legislation will serve as a cornerstone for developing Jammu and Kashmir into a premier educational hub,” Ramzan said.
“By facilitating the establishment of private universities, we are expanding the academic ecosystem, promoting interdisciplinary learning and creating avenues for research, innovation and skill development,” he added.
Ramzan said the measure would not only retain local talent but would also ensure that money spent by students and families remains within the region, thereby benefiting the local economy.
Referring to Kashmir’s historical legacy as a centre of learning, he said the region had for centuries remained a hub of scholarship and culture in Asia.
“From times immemorial, Kashmir has been a vibrant nucleus of literary and scholarly pursuits in Asia. This initiative has the potential to restore that legacy and reposition the region as a beacon of academic distinction and cultural enlightenment,” he said.
The National Conference leader further said the establishment of private universities would create large-scale employment opportunities in teaching, administration, technical and non-teaching sectors.
According to him, the proposed institutions would also contribute to balanced regional development by generating economic activity in the areas where they are established.
Commending the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Ramzan described the passage of the bill as a milestone in the broader effort to build Jammu and Kashmir into a knowledge economy.
He also recalled the vision of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, saying the late leader had envisioned Jammu and Kashmir emerging as an educational hub of South and Southeast Asia.
“This measure is a decisive step toward realising that vision,” Ramzan said, while congratulating Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakina Itoo for introducing what he termed a forward-looking reform.
