Central Universities Act — Amendments

Amendment	Year	Description	Impact
103rd Constitutional Amendment Act	2019	Introduced Article 15(6) and 16(6) to the Constitution, enabling the State to make special provisions for the advancement of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), including reservations up to 10% in educational institutions and public employment.	Led to the implementation of 10% EWS reservation in admissions and appointments across all Central Universities, significantly expanding the scope of affirmative action under the Central Universities Act, 2009. This required Central Universities to adjust their admission criteria and recruitment processes.
Central Universities (Amendment) Act	2021	Amended the 2009 Act to provide for the establishment of a Central University in the Union Territory of Ladakh, named 'Sindhu Central University'.	Demonstrated the ongoing use of the 2009 Act's framework to establish new Central Universities in strategically important or underserved regions. This specific amendment aimed to address the higher education needs of Ladakh, promoting regional development and access to quality education in a remote area.
Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act	2006 (Pre-dating 2009 Act, but foundational)	Provided for reservation of seats in admission in Central Educational Institutions for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. This Act was enacted following the 93rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2005 (inserting Article 15(5)).	While enacted before the 2009 Act, its principles and provisions for SC/ST/OBC reservations became integral to the Central Universities Act, 2009, particularly Section 5. It established the statutory basis for implementing these reservations in all Central Educational Institutions, including the Central Universities established under the 2009 Act. This ensures a consistent reservation policy across central institutions.