The State government on Friday (February 20, 2026) withdrew the contentious Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which had been passed by the House last year. The Bill allowed for the conversion of existing private or government-aided colleges into a new category called “Brownfield Universities” by altering the minimum requirement of contiguous land needed to establish such institutions.
Within a few days of the Bill being passed in the House amid opposition from the AIADMK and a few other parties, Higher Education Minister Govi. Chezhiaan had said the government would withdraw and review it.
Withdraw Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill: Former Anna University V-C urges T.N. government
While Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act, 2019, mandates a minimum of 100 acres of contiguous land to establish private universities in the State, the amendment had reduced the requirement for Brownfield Universities to 25 acres in municipal corporation areas, 35 acres in municipal council or town panchayat areas, and 50 acres in other areas. The government also withdrew the Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
FM presents Final Supplementary Estimates
