SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir assembly Saturday passed a bill that allows establishment of private universities in the union territory. Education minister Sakeena Itoo, who moved the Jammu and Kashmir Private Universities Bill, 2026, said it will boost higher education in J&K and numerous students will benefit from it.The bill also aims to regulate the functioning, management and academic standards of the private universities “for ensuring quality education and protecting the interests of students”.The minister rejected suggestions that there should be quota in the proposed universities for those coming from below poverty line and reserved categories, saying such moves discourage private investors.Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah of NC called the bill historic. “We have been demanding this for a long time,” he said, adding, “Thousands of our students go outside J&K for education every year, which drains our economy.”