Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government introduced a bill in the Assembly to amend the Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act, 2019, allowing the establishment of private universities on smaller land parcels within urban limits.

Higher Education Minister Kovi Cheliyan tabled the bill, which proposes that private universities can now be established with 25 acres of continuous land in corporation areas, 30 acres in municipality and township areas, and 50 acres in other regions.

Currently, the Act mandates a minimum of 100 acres of continuous land for setting up a private university, a condition that institutions in densely populated urban areas have found difficult to meet.

The amendment seeks to encourage reputed private colleges and educational groups to upgrade into universities and introduce new courses in collaboration with international institutions for teaching, research, and extension activities.

According to the statement of objects and reasons, the change aims to “promote higher education and serve the welfare of students” by facilitating the establishment of more universities in accessible locations.

In a separate development, a bill was also tabled to increase the pension of former MLAs from ₹30,000 to ₹35,000 per month, fulfilling an announcement made by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the Assembly on April 25.

The bill was introduced by Leader of the House Duraimurugan.