UP Assembly approves two new state universities, in Bhadohi and Shahjahanpur

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) legislative assembly has passed the Uttar Pradesh State Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Uttar Pradesh State Universities (Second Amendment) Bill, 2026, paving the way for two new state universities, one in Bhadohi and another in Shahjahanpur.

The legislation paves the way for the conversion of Kashi Naresh Postgraduate College in Gyanpur, Bhadohi, into a state university, expected to affiliate 23 nearby colleges. Swami Sukhdevanand University will be set up in Shahjahanpur through the upgrade of educational units of the Mumukshu Ashram Trust, which will affiliate around 60 colleges.

This became possible after the trust transferred its movable and immovable assets to the Uttar Pradesh government through a memorandum of understanding, higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyay informed the assembly.

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Presenting the bills during the budget session, Upadhyay said the UP government aims to expand higher education access in rural, backward and underserved regions so that students can pursue studies closer to their homes.

He told the House that the objective is to widen participation in higher education and use it as a tool for social mobility and regional development. The move he said is intended to bring education opportunities to local youth and strengthen district level academic infrastructure.

At present, Uttar Pradesh has 42 state public universities and 50 state private ones, as per the University Grants Commission’s records. The two new institutions will bring the total to 44.

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As per the minister, upgrading the Bhadohi institution into a university will create an academic hub for the Purvanchal region by bringing 23 affiliated colleges under a unified academic structure and improving opportunities for higher studies, research and innovation.

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The Shahjahanpur university, he added, is expected to generate local education and employment opportunities for youth.

Upadhyay also stated that the government’s higher education policy seeks balanced and decentralised expansion of universities across districts. He informed the House that recent reforms have focused not only on increasing the number of institutions but also on improving quality, encouraging research, promoting skill based education and strengthening academic collaboration.

The UP government’s statement noted that the initiative aims to “provide a university in every district” and improve access to higher education across the state.