The Central Sanskrit Universities Act, 2020, represents a significant legislative effort by the Indian government to restructure and elevate the status of three prominent Sanskrit institutions—Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (New Delhi), Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth (New Delhi), and Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth (Tirupati)—from "deemed-to-be universities" to full-fledged Central Sanskrit Universities. This transition aimed to integrate these institutions more closely into the national higher education framework while preserving their focus on Sanskrit language, literature, and traditional knowledge systems. The Act, which came into force on 30th April 2020, dissolved the original societies governing these institutions and established them as separate, autonomous bodies corporate under the Ministry of Education (formerly Ministry of Human Resource Development). This move was part of a broader initiative to promote Sanskrit as a vital component of India's cultural and academic heritage, aligning with constitutional provisions and national education policies.
The Act outlines the primary objectives of the newly established universities, which include advancing knowledge in Sanskrit and allied subjects through teaching, research, and extension activities. The universities are empowered to offer integrated courses in humanities, social sciences, and sciences, adopt innovative teaching methods, and promote interdisciplinary studies. They are also tasked with preserving and researching Sanskrit traditions, including Indian philosophy, Pali-Prakrit, Yoga, and Ayurveda. Key powers granted to the universities include:
Awarding degrees, diplomas, and other academic distinctions.
Establishing collaborations with national and international institutions.
Introducing distance education and online learning programs.
Creating academic and administrative posts, and managing infrastructure such as campuses, libraries, and research centers.
To ensure continuity, the Act mandates that existing employees, students, and academic programs of the erstwhile deemed universities be absorbed into the new structure without disruption. Properties, rights, and liabilities of the dissolved societies were transferred to the corresponding universities. The Vice-Chancellors and other officials in office before the Act’s commencement continued their roles under the new framework.
Inclusivity: The universities are open to all, irrespective of caste, creed, or gender, with special provisions for marginalized groups.
Autonomy: The universities can frame their own Statutes, Ordinances, and Regulations, subject to approval by the Visitor and the Central Government.
Dispute Resolution: Mechanisms like arbitration tribunals are established for employee and student grievances.