Gujarat begins long-pending process to set up Climate Change University

After months of inaction, the Gujarat government has finally initiated the process of establishing the state’s proposed Climate Change University, a project first announced in the 2024–25 Budget.

Although the university falls under the Climate Change Department, all groundwork and procedural steps are now being handled by the Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA).

GEDA has issued a notification inviting applications for the appointment of a registrar on an outsourced, temporary basis to begin the legal and structural groundwork for the university. The move has triggered discussions in academic circles, as the registrar is traditionally a permanent post in any university.

According to the agency’s call for applications, the temporary registrar—offered a monthly pay of ₹90,000—will be responsible for preparing the institution’s framework, securing statutory approvals from the state and central governments, and coordinating with bodies such as UGC and AICTE for compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The application deadline has been set for December 11.

The proposal for a dedicated Climate Change University gained traction as Gujarat continues to face rising challenges related to extreme weather events, pollution and environmental stress. Despite the budgetary provision, no formal process had been initiated until now.

Once the university’s structure is drafted, the state government will table the proposal in the Assembly for approval. Only after legislative clearance will the university begin operations, offering a range of technical and non-technical programmes focused on climate science and related fields.

For now, the outsourcing of the registrar position remains the most debated aspect, but the state’s move marks the first concrete step towards setting up a specialised university dedicated to climate change studies.