Kerala Sets Up Expert Panel to Review UGC’s Draft Curriculum Framework

The Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) has announced the formation of a high-level expert committee to examine the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) recently released draft Learning Outcomes-based Curriculum Frameworks (LOCFs). The move reflects Kerala’s proactive stance in defending academic autonomy and ensuring that higher education remains aligned with principles of inclusivity, scientific temper, and democratic values.

A Comprehensive Review Across Nine Subjects

The UGC’s draft framework proposes new structures for undergraduate studies in nine subjects, including anthropology, chemistry, commerce, economics, geography, home science, mathematics, physical education, and political science. KSHEC’s review panel will evaluate these frameworks on several critical parameters: academic depth, ideological neutrality, compatibility with the existing credit system, and their impact on university-level learning outcomes in Kerala.

Eminent Academics at the Helm

The review panel is chaired by Prof. Prabhat Patnaik, a renowned economist from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). He will be joined by Prof. Rajan Gurukkal as co-chair, along with experts like Prof. Vani Kesari (Cusat), retired Prof. N.J. Rao (IISc), and KSHEC member-secretary Rajan Varughese, who will serve as the convenor. Veteran historian Prof. Romila Thapar has also been invited as a special member to bring historical perspective into the discussions.

Concerns Over Academic Autonomy

Kerala’s leadership has voiced sharp criticism of the UGC’s draft. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan argued that the proposed framework reflects attempts to impose ideological narratives, citing the replacement of the UGC emblem with a Goddess Saraswathy portrait as an example of cultural and symbolic rewriting.

Critics fear that the centralization of curriculum design could undermine universities’ freedom to adapt syllabi based on regional and global academic trends. They argue that higher education must remain a space for independent inquiry and diverse perspectives, rather than being shaped by narrow ideological priorities.

Safeguarding Higher Education

By setting up this committee, KSHEC aims to submit a detailed evaluation of the draft curriculum to the UGC, ensuring that Kerala’s universities continue to promote academic freedom, evidence-based learning, and inclusive growth. The findings are expected to influence not only Kerala’s higher education roadmap but also spark national debate on the balance between central oversight and state autonomy in academia.