Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Saturday passed a bill that allows the establishment of private universities in the union territory. Education Minister Sakina Itu, who introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Private Universities Bill, 2026, said it will boost higher education in Jammu and Kashmir and many students will benefit from it.The Bill also aims to regulate the functioning, management and academic standards of private universities “to ensure quality education and protect the interests of students”.The minister rejected suggestions that there should be a quota for people below the poverty line and from reserved categories in the proposed universities, saying such moves discourage private investors.NC’s Pirzada Farooq Ahmed Shah described the bill as historic. He said, “We have been demanding this for a long time. Thousands of our students go out of Jammu and Kashmir for education every year, which affects our economy.