The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Monday approved a significant bill to establish a new state university dedicated to earth sciences, which will be named in honour of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The Telangana Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, paves the way for the creation of the Dr Manmohan Singh Earth Sciences University in Kothagudem.
Budget and Government Commitment
Replying on behalf of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha announced a substantial financial commitment for the new institution. The state government will allocate a budget of ₹500 crore over the next two years to develop the university. The minister informed the House that the government plans to sanction necessary teaching and non-teaching posts, extend financial support, and ensure robust infrastructure development in line with the Telangana Universities Act, 1991.
The legislative bill also envisages the transfer of existing assets and liabilities. This includes the teaching and non-teaching posts of the University College of Engineering, from the administrative control of Kakatiya University to the new earth sciences university.
Opposition Raises Concerns Over Transparency
During the discussion on the bill, AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi raised pointed questions about the lack of detailed information provided to the legislators. He questioned why MLAs were not given access to the detailed report submitted by the Telangana State Council for Higher Education for the university's establishment.
"I tried to check, but there is no information available about the courses that would be offered by the university, the new departments that would be created, or the quantum of financial support that would be extended to the new institution," Owaisi stated.
While acknowledging that setting up new universities is a positive step, the AIMIM leader highlighted existing challenges in higher education. He pointed out that current institutes are grappling with shortages of both teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as inadequate infrastructure. He emphasised the need for courses to be on par with top international standards to ensure global employability for graduates.
Owaisi further drew attention to critical issues in technical education, noting that many seats in engineering colleges, including in key fields like artificial intelligence and computer science, remain vacant. He also called for scrutiny of private institutions offering courses not recognised by bodies like the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
Government's Assurance and Future Steps
In his response, Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha assured the House that the suggestions made by members from the AIMIM, BJP, and CPI would be considered positively by the government. The passage of the bill marks a formal legislative step towards realising the new university, which aims to create specialised departments and courses in the vital field of earth sciences.
The establishment of the Dr Manmohan Singh Earth Sciences University represents a major investment in Telangana's higher education landscape, with a clear focus on building a specialised institution backed by significant state funding.
