The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has approved restructuring Rajiv Gandhi Technological University into three regional technical and skill universities, triggering criticism from the Congress over the removal of Rajiv Gandhi’s name.
The Madhya Pradesh government has approved a proposal to restructure Rajiv Gandhi Technological University (RGPV) into three separate regional technical and skill universities, while also removing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s name from the Bhopal-based institution.
The decision was taken at a state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. The government has proposed separate universities for the Bhopal, Ujjain and Jabalpur regions, with the stated objective of making technical education and skill development more responsive to regional requirements.
Three regional universities planned
Under the restructuring plan, the Bhopal-based university will become the Madhya Bharat Technological and Skill University.
The other two institutions will be the Malwa Technological and Skill University in Ujjain and the Mahakaushal Technological and Skill University in Jabalpur. Separate legislation is proposed for the three universities, according to reports on the Cabinet decision.
The government’s rationale is that decentralising the existing system would allow technical education and skill development to be managed according to the needs of different regions and could make academic and administrative services more accessible locally.
RGPV name change triggers political row
The decision to remove Rajiv Gandhi’s name from the Bhopal university has triggered a political confrontation between the BJP government and the Congress.
Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders have questioned the need to remove the former Prime Minister’s name while restructuring the university.
Congress media department chief Mukesh Nayak alleged that the government was removing the name of a leader who had made a major contribution to modern India. He also criticised the BJP over its approach to institutions associated with Congress leaders.
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath also opposed the move, saying Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure was associated with India’s entry into the era of modern technology and the information revolution.
Kamal Nath alleged that the BJP government was focused on changing nameplates rather than creating new initiatives and demanded that Rajiv Gandhi’s name be retained. He also argued that changing an institution’s name could not change history.
Thousands of students and colleges affected
RGPV is among Madhya Pradesh’s largest technical education institutions. Reports put its network at around 585 affiliated institutions and more than 3.83 lakh students, making the restructuring significant for students, colleges and academic administration across the state.
The transition will require clarity on how existing affiliations, examinations, degrees and academic administration will be handled across the three proposed universities.
The government has yet to spell out all implementation details and timelines in the material reviewed.
The restructuring therefore marks a major change in Madhya Pradesh’s technical education architecture, while the controversy over the removal of Rajiv Gandhi’s name has added a political dimension to the Cabinet decision.
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