Rajasthan renames vice-chancellors to "Kulguru."

The Rajasthan State Assembly has approved the Rajasthan Universities' Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025. This new law changes the title of university vice-chancellors from “Kulpati” to “Kulguru” in Hindi. However, the titles in English will stay the same. The term "Pratikulpati" will also be replaced with "Pratikulguru." Opposition lawmakers protested against the need for this change. They argued that while there are 32 state universities, only four vice-chancellors are from Rajasthan. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully expressed concern, stating that most vice-chancellors are from Uttar Pradesh. He questioned the appointment criteria and suggested that the government's focus should be on improving university conditions rather than changing names. Critics also raised worries about how the “Kulguru” title could affect students applying to foreign or other Indian universities. Deputy Leader of Opposition Ramkesh Meena commented on the historical context of the term, saying it connected to an exclusive education system. He warned that the government was trying to take society back to old traditions that left many behind. Independent MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati added that vice-chancellors often come from wealthy backgrounds and recover their investments during their tenure. This has raised further doubts about the motivations behind the new title.