Rajasthan Governor and Chancellor Haribhau Bagade on 25 September 2026 appointed new Vice-Chancellors for three major state universities, ending prolonged vacancies that had held up academic leadership across key institutions. The appointments were formally notified through orders issued by the Governor's Secretariat late on Thursday night, in consultation with the state government led by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.

The Three Appointments

Dr Bhagwati Prasad Saraswat has been named Vice-Chancellor of the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur — the state's flagship public university. He currently serves as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kota, and his move to Jaipur follows what officials described as a prolonged selection process for the post. Dr Yudhveer Singh has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Shekhawati University, Sikar, while Prof. Narsi Ram Bishnoi takes charge as Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Ganga Singh University, Bikaner.

Terms of Office and Conditions

According to the Governor's order, each of the three Vice-Chancellors will hold office for three years from the date of assuming charge, or until attaining the age of 70, whichever comes earlier. The appointments will formally take effect once each appointee assumes office and takes charge of academic and administrative responsibilities at their respective institutions.

Why the Vacancies Mattered

The selection processes for all three posts had remained pending for an extended period, leaving the universities without permanent leadership. Prolonged VC vacancies in Indian public universities often create administrative bottlenecks — delaying faculty recruitments, stalling examination reforms, and complicating affiliation decisions for constituent colleges. This comes amid broader scrutiny of university governance in Rajasthan, where regulatory and administrative reforms have been a stated priority of the Bhajanlal Sharma government.

Roles the New VCs Will Assume

As Vice-Chancellor of Rajasthan University — one of the oldest and largest in the state — Dr Saraswat will oversee academic policy, student affairs, campus governance, and administrative functions. The two other appointees will carry similar mandates at their respective campuses in Sikar and Bikaner. All three universities serve student populations spread across multiple districts and affiliated colleges.

What Comes Next

The new appointees are expected to formally assume charge in the coming days, after which day-to-day governance will resume under permanent leadership. Stakeholders, including faculty unions and student bodies at all three campuses, are likely to watch the transition closely, given the administrative backlog that typically accumulates during extended leadership vacancies.