Kathmandu, Feb. 4 -- The Ministry of Education on January 21 made public a draft of the much talked-about higher education bill to guide Nepal's university education. It sets the criteria for establishing new universities while categorising existing ones. However, it has met with more criticism than appreciation from academicians who say the universities will be under the dominance of bureaucracy and politicisation will continue to prevail if the bill is endorsed in its present form. They have demanded redrafting the bill.

Here is all you need to know about the controversial draft bill.

Why is a new law needed?

The bill envisions legal oversight for establishing, operating and supervising universities and higher education institutions....