Parliament Question: Setting up of Central University in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2439 ANSWERED ON – 03/08/2026 Setting up of Central University in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands 2439. Shri Bishnu Pada Ray: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the people's representative from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has submitted several representations on 09.12.2025, 12.12.2026, 16.02.2026 and 16.03.2026 to the Government for reconsideration of the Government's decision to establish a Central University in place of Deemed-to-be University under the de novo category, citing various reasons and precedents in support of establishing a Central University and has also raised the matter in Parliament on 23.03.2026 along with the present status in this regard; and (b) whether the Government proposes to reconsider its decision and accede to the pending demand of the Islanders and students for establishment of a Central University in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands through an act of Parliament in place of Deemed-to-be University, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) & (b): The Central Government had received representations for setting up a full-fledged Central University in A&N Islands. The Ministry had explored the possibility for setting up a Central University in A&N Islands in the year 2017. After detailed examination and deliberations with the academic experts, an Institution deemed to be University was established in the name of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Institute of Higher Learning (NSCBIHL), Port Blair under de-novo category under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 consisting of seven existing colleges (Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya, Tagore Government B.Ed College, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Mahatma Gandhi Government College, Andaman and Nicobar College, Medical College ANIIMS and Andaman Law College) focusing on emerging areas like oceanography and sustainable development. *****