Major Legislative Changes in Jharkhand: CM Gains Control Over University Appointments and Fee Regulations Implemented

Five significant bills were passed by the Jharkhand Assembly on Tuesday, with the Jharkhand State University Bill 2025 at the forefront. This legislation grants the Chief Minister the authority to appoint key university officials, including Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Vice-Chancellors. Furthermore, the state government will oversee the hiring and promotions within universities and colleges. The Senate, chaired by the Pro-VC or the Minister of Higher and Technical Education, will meet twice a year. Alongside, the Jharkhand Professional Educational Institutions (Fee Regulation) Bill 2025 was approved to regulate fees in private professional institutions, setting up a fee regulatory structure to curb arbitrary fee hikes. A student grievance mechanism will be established. The Jharkhand Coaching Center (Control and Regulation) Bill 2025, another key piece of legislation, introduces a state-level authority, supported by district-level bodies, to monitor and regulate coaching centers. Mandatory registration for all coaching centers, students, teachers, and mental health counselors will be enforced. Coaching centers must provide career guidance and psychological counseling from registered mental health counselors. The Jharkhand Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Special Exemption) Bill 2025 was also enacted, granting exemptions from approvals and inspections, thereby supporting entrepreneurship and inclusive economic progress. The Jharkhand Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill 2025 aims to establish a regulatory framework ensuring fair work conditions, minimum wages, and social security for gig workers, including independent contractors and temporary employees. The bill also includes a registration system to facilitate welfare measures for gig workers in the state.