Mizoram Assembly Relocates University Headquarters to Lunglei Amid Regional Development Concerns

Aizawl:The Mizoram Assembly on Wednesday passed theMizoram State University (Amendment) Bill, relocating the proposed university’s headquarters from Aizawl toLungleiin the southern part of the state.The Amendment reverses last year’s decision to designate Aizawl as the headquarters of the proposed university.Introducing the Bill, Higher and Technical Education MinisterVanlalthlanasaid the decision was intended to address regional development imbalances and promote equitable growth across the state.The proposed university will function in a “cluster mode”, bringing various existing colleges under a unified administrative framework.Although the government had initiated the creation of staff posts and begun the process of identifying a Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, the Minister clarified that the amendment represents a change of site rather than a physical relocation.“The headquarters had not been fully established in Aizawl; only the site had been surveyed. The centre is not being shifted but changed,” he said, adding that the decision followed sustained representations from residents of Lunglei, Champhai and Mamit districts.While extending support to the Bill, Opposition members raised questions over the timing of the reversal. Some alleged that the government had yielded to pressure from non-governmental organisations and legislators from the ruling party representing southern districts.BJP member K. Hrahmo alleged that the government reconsidered its 2025 decision after legislators from Lunglei threatened to resign.Chief Minister Lalduhoma sought to allay concerns, stating that the shift of headquarters to Lunglei would not diminish Aizawl’s academic importance. Under the cluster model, several departments and schools of the proposed university will continue to function from colleges in Aizawl, as originally envisaged.Related