> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://newsanek.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Kerala relaxes approval rules for autonomous colleges to add courses and seats - URL: https://newsanek.com/kerala-autonomous-colleges-add-courses-without-noc/ - Published: 2026-11-09T12:33:39.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-09T12:50:14.000Z - Description: The state government says this will cut delays and give colleges more freedom to meet student needs. Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan has demanded that the revised guidelines be withdrawn. - Author: Kumar Ujjwal - Tags: India, Kerala, Explainer, #sub-education, #state-kerala, #state-desk, #region-south, #sm-42, #smemo-useful Kerala has relaxed the approval rules for some colleges. The revised guidelines were issued by the Higher Education Department on November 6. The change allows autonomous aided and self-financing colleges to add new courses and increase student seats. Until now, they needed a no-objection certificate, or NOC, which is a formal letter showing that the authority has no objection. ### Key points - Autonomous colleges can add self-financing courses and increase seats without prior government approval. - They must inform the government in advance. Universities keep their approval powers. - The opposition says the change could weaken oversight and lead to commercialisation. - Kerala's Higher Education Minister Roji M John defends the move. ## So what has changed, and what has not? The relaxation does not cover every course or every college. Government and aided colleges still need approval for new aided courses. They also need approval to permanently increase seats in existing aided courses. The NOC will now be renewed once every three years, instead of every year. NOC renewal period for colleges Earlier: NOC renewed every year1 Now: NOC renewed every three years3 years Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report ## Why does the minister say this change is needed? Minister Roji M John spoke at a press conference on Sunday. She said the NOC requirement was causing unnecessary delays. She said the change would help colleges start new technology-focused programmes. It could also stop students from leaving Kerala for courses not offered in the state. She added that some college seats are vacant, partly because students want programmes that are not available. ## Why is the opposition worried? Pinarayi Vijayan, the Leader of Opposition and a former chief minister, has criticised the decision. He alleged that the government is weakening safeguards under pressure from private college managements. He said that letting colleges increase seats without checking actual need could hurt merit and reservation rules. He also questioned the removal of annual inspections. He has sought a comprehensive legal inquiry into the alleged dilution of the earlier September 11 circular. Explainer ### What happened before - Earlier, colleges had to get a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the affiliated university and the state government before starting new self-financing courses. - The minister said this requirement was not followed in most other states. - The opposition has alleged that the new changes dilute an earlier September 11 circular. ### Why it matters The changes affect how many courses and seats colleges can offer, and how much government oversight there is. ### What to watch next - Colleges must inform the government in advance before adding new self-financing courses or seats. - Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan has sought a comprehensive legal inquiry into the alleged dilution of the September 11 circular. --- ### Sources - [Times Now: Kerala Allows Autonomous Colleges To Add Courses Without Govt NOC](https://www.timesnownews.com/education/kerala-allows-autonomous-colleges-to-add-courses-without-govt-noc-article-156485486?ref=newsanek.com)