Aliah University administrative control transferred to Higher Education Department

The West Bengal Governor on September 24, 2026, transferred the administrative control and regulatory responsibility of Aliah University from the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education (MAME) department to the Higher Education Department (HED). This decision follows an announcement by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on September 8, 2026, outlining a shift towards a unified education system in the state.

The transfer is part of the state government’s stated objective to set up a ‘one state, one education’ policy, ensure greater uniformity in the state’s education system, and speed up administration. It also aims to bring institutions like Aliah University under the ambit of the National Education Policy (NEP).

Policy Shift and Legislative Action

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari advocated for a ‘one state, one education’ policy in West Bengal, stating that Aliah University, like other state-run institutions of higher learning, will be brought under the ambit of the National Education Policy (NEP). He emphasised that there would be no parallel education system in the state and that institutions would operate under the NEP umbrella. The Chief Minister’s remarks came amid discussions over reforms in the state’s higher education sector.

To support such changes, the state cabinet cleared a proposal for amending an Act governing internal transfer of teachers and non-teaching staffers at state-run universities. The West Bengal University and College Administration and Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was scheduled to be tabled for passage at a special session of the state Assembly on September 10, 2026.

Aliah University’s Background and Offerings

Aliah University was previously managed by the state Minority Affairs Department and is a State University under the Department of Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education, Government of West Bengal. It came into existence through the Aliah University Act (Act XXVII of 2007), which came into force on April 5, 2008. The university started its academic journey from the 2008-09 academic session and has been conferred the status of a minority educational institution as per Aliah University Act 2007, Section 3 (3).

The parent institution of Aliah University was established by British Governor-General Warren Hastings in 1780. The newly-built building of Aliah University at New Town was inaugurated by Mamata Banerjee on November 11, 2014, with academic and administrative activities at the New Town and Park Circus campuses commencing from January 2015. Aliah University offers a diverse range of courses, including Islamic Theology, Islamic Studies, Arabic, English, Bengali, History, Geography, Economics, Science (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science), Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and Electronic Communications, Computer Engineering), Management, and Journalism and Mass Communication Studies.

Rectifying Previous Policies and Merit-Based Support

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that the government is working to rectify “mistakes” made by the previous Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government concerning religious division in scholarships and education policy. Adhikari emphasized that students should be awarded based on their merit and performance, not their religion, contrasting this with the previous government’s policy of religious division. He highlighted that awardees for exceptional board exam performance this year included students from Muslim, Christian, Jain, and Buddhist communities.

The Chief Minister affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting students from all religious communities to achieve success in their professional fields based on merit. He also noted the removal of financial criteria for applications to the Vivekananda Merit Scholarship program, aiming to promote merit and excellence without religious bias. Adhikari stated that a government should not provide scholarships exclusively to Muslim students in middle school while depriving others, asserting that students should be judged solely as students, irrespective of their religion.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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