Mahamaitri, a collective of academics, education activists, and civil society organisations, has issued a stark warning that public universities in Karnataka are on the brink of collapse, calling for urgent and comprehensive reforms to rescue the higher education system. In a strongly worded statement, the group highlighted chronic underfunding, administrative interference, staff shortages, and declining academic autonomy as key factors pushing universities into crisis. They cautioned that unless immediate corrective steps are taken, public universities risk losing their relevance, credibility, and capacity to serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Education policy experts noted that the crisis in public universities cannot be addressed through isolated interventions or short-term funding infusions alone. They argued that systemic reform requires synchronised action across recruitment, curriculum renewal, infrastructure development, and governance restructuring. Without alignment across these areas, reforms risk becoming fragmented and ineffective, further straining already overstretched institutions.
Observers also highlighted the need to rebuild public confidence in state-run universities. Years of declining standards and uncertainty have led many students to opt for private institutions despite higher costs. Mahamaitri warned that unless credibility is restored through visible improvements in teaching quality, research output, and campus facilities, public universities may continue to lose both enrolment and relevance.
Finally, the group emphasised that time is a critical factor. Delayed decisions, prolonged consultations without implementation, and repeated postponement of reforms have already taken a toll. Mahamaitri urged the government to treat the situation as an emergency, warning that every academic year lost to inaction deepens the crisis and narrows the window for meaningful recovery.
The warning comes amid growing concern over the deteriorating condition of state-run universities, many of which are struggling with vacant teaching posts, delayed salaries, outdated infrastructure, and mounting administrative pressures. Mahamaitri said the crisis is not sudden but the result of years of neglect and policy paralysis, aggravated by frequent changes in leadership and lack of long-term vision for higher education.
According to the group, public universities play a crucial role in ensuring equitable access to higher education, especially for first-generation learners, rural students, and those from marginalised communities. Weakening these institutions, they argued, threatens not only academic standards but also social mobility and democratic values.
SYSTEMIC DECLINE AND STRUCTURAL ISSUES
Mahamaitri pointed out that many universities are functioning with a significant number of vacant faculty positions, forcing departments to rely on temporary or guest lecturers. This, they said, affects continuity in teaching, mentorship, and research. Students often face irregular classes, limited course options, and reduced academic engagement, undermining the overall learning experience.
Administrative burdens on faculty have also increased, with teachers spending substantial time on non-academic duties such as examinations, admissions, and compliance reporting. Mahamaitri argued that this has eroded the core academic role of universities, leaving little room for research, curriculum development, or intellectual debate.
The group further noted that frequent delays in appointing vice-chancellors and registrars have created leadership vacuums. In several cases, universities are run by interim arrangements for extended periods, leading to indecision and stalled reforms. Such instability, they said, weakens institutional governance and accountability.
FUNDING CONSTRAINTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DECAY
One of the central concerns raised by Mahamaitri is inadequate and inconsistent funding for public universities. Budgetary allocations, they said, have not kept pace with rising enrolment, inflation, and expanding academic responsibilities. As a result, universities struggle to maintain basic facilities, let alone invest in modern laboratories, libraries, or digital infrastructure.
Several campuses face crumbling buildings, poorly maintained hostels, and insufficient classroom space. Students from rural areas, who depend heavily on hostel facilities, are particularly affected. Mahamaitri warned that poor living and learning conditions contribute to dropouts, mental stress, and declining academic performance.
The group also highlighted delays in the release of grants, which disrupt day-to-day functioning. Universities are often forced to postpone maintenance work, research activities, and student support programmes due to financial uncertainty. Such stopgap management, they argued, reflects deeper policy neglect.
EROSION OF ACADEMIC AUTONOMY
Mahamaitri expressed concern over increasing political and bureaucratic interference in university affairs. Decisions related to appointments, curriculum changes, and administrative policies are often influenced by external pressures, compromising academic freedom and institutional independence.
The group warned that erosion of autonomy discourages critical inquiry and innovation, which are essential to vibrant universities. Faculty members, they said, may feel constrained in research and teaching, leading to intellectual stagnation. Over time, this undermines the credibility of degrees awarded by public institutions.
They also cautioned against excessive standardisation and top-down reforms that fail to account for the diversity of universities and disciplines. Mahamaitri argued that meaningful reform must be consultative, inclusive, and sensitive to local academic contexts.
IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND SOCIAL EQUITY
Students are among the worst affected by the ongoing crisis, Mahamaitri said. Delayed examinations, postponed results, and uncertainty over academic calendars disrupt students’ career plans and cause emotional distress. For those preparing for competitive exams or seeking employment, such delays can have long-term consequences.
The group stressed that public universities are often the only affordable option for students from economically weaker sections. Decline in quality or accessibility, therefore, disproportionately affects those who cannot afford private education. Mahamaitri warned that weakening public universities could deepen educational inequality.
They also highlighted the lack of adequate counselling, placement support, and mental health services on campuses. As academic pressure and uncertainty grow, students require stronger institutional support, which many universities are currently unable to provide.
FACULTY MORALE AND WORKING CONDITIONS
Mahamaitri noted that faculty morale is at a low point, with many teachers facing heavy workloads, job insecurity, and limited opportunities for professional growth. Delays in promotions, lack of research funding, and inadequate support for attending conferences or publishing work have further dampened motivation.
Guest and contract faculty, who form a significant portion of the teaching workforce, often work under precarious conditions with low pay and no job security. Mahamaitri argued that this undermines both academic quality and fairness, as committed teachers are denied stability and recognition.
The group called for transparent recruitment processes, timely promotions, and better support for research and training. Investing in faculty, they said, is essential to revitalising universities and improving student outcomes.
GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY GAPS
Governance structures within public universities have also come under scrutiny. Mahamaitri pointed out that internal decision-making bodies often lack adequate representation and transparency. In some cases, statutory bodies meet irregularly or function as rubber stamps, weakening checks and balances.
The group urged the government to respect institutional governance mechanisms and ensure that appointments to key positions are based on merit and integrity. They argued that strong leadership is critical for navigating challenges and implementing reforms.
Mahamaitri also called for regular audits and performance reviews, not as punitive measures but as tools for improvement. Data-driven evaluation, they said, can help identify gaps, allocate resources more effectively, and build public trust.
CALL FOR URGENT AND HOLISTIC REFORMS
Emphasising urgency, Mahamaitri outlined a set of reforms to rescue public universities from further decline. These include increased and predictable funding, expedited recruitment of faculty, restoration of academic autonomy, and strengthening of governance structures.
The group advocated for a long-term vision for higher education that goes beyond short-term fixes. Policy stability, they said, is crucial to allow universities to plan, innovate, and grow. Frequent policy shifts and ad-hoc decisions only exacerbate uncertainty.
Mahamaitri also called for meaningful consultation with teachers, students, and academic experts in shaping reforms. Inclusive dialogue, they argued, is essential to ensure that changes address ground realities rather than imposing one-size-fits-all solutions.
BROADER IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIETY
The crisis in public universities, Mahamaitri warned, has implications far beyond campuses. Universities play a vital role in producing skilled professionals, informed citizens, and critical thinkers. Weakening them affects the state’s intellectual capital and long-term development.
Research output, innovation, and social engagement suffer when universities are under-resourced and overburdened. Mahamaitri cautioned that neglecting public higher education could undermine Karnataka’s reputation as a knowledge hub.
They also stressed that universities are spaces for democratic engagement and social debate. Curtailing their autonomy or allowing them to deteriorate, the group said, weakens democratic culture and civic consciousness.
POLITICAL AND PUBLIC RESPONSE
The statement has sparked discussion among academic circles and policymakers. Some education experts echoed Mahamaitri’s concerns, calling for immediate intervention to stabilise universities. Others stressed the need for coordinated action between the state government, universities, and regulatory bodies.
Student organisations have welcomed the call for reforms, saying it reflects lived realities on campuses. They urged authorities to move beyond assurances and take concrete steps to improve conditions.
Government officials, while acknowledging challenges, have said efforts are underway to address some of the issues raised. However, Mahamaitri insisted that incremental measures will not suffice and that a comprehensive overhaul is required.
CONCLUSION: A MOMENT OF CHOICE
Mahamaitri concluded that public universities are at a critical crossroads. Continued neglect could push them into irreversible decline, while decisive and thoughtful reforms could restore their vitality and purpose.
The group urged the government and society at large to recognise public universities as public goods deserving sustained investment and care. Saving them, Mahamaitri argued, is not merely an educational imperative but a social and democratic necessity.
As debates over reform intensify, the coming months may determine whether Karnataka’s public universities can recover and reassert their role as engines of knowledge, equity, and progress, or whether they will continue to drift towards crisis.
