The University of Calicut has rejected a demand to introduce research facilities on astrology in its affiliated colleges and study centres.
The demand was put forward by the general secretary of the Panikkar Service Society (Kaniyar Trust) before a legislature committee on backward classes welfare earlier this year when the Left Democratic Front government was in power. The society wanted to set up “a research system on astrology at the government level” after “linking astrology with astronomy.” A demand was also made to “involve experts” in the project.
The committee forwarded the proposal to the Higher Education department, which sought the opinion of the university.
According to sources, the university authorities did not initially respond to the proposal. A reminder was sent again on May 23, 2026. Thereafter, the steering committee on four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUGP) discussed the issue. Unanimous approval of the committee is necessary to take any decision related to the FYUGP in affiliated colleges and study centres.
The sources said on Wednesday (June 24, 2026) that 12 of the 15 members unanimously rejected the demand.
“Astronomy is a scientific subject, while astrology is not related to science. We felt that mixing the two will not be appropriate. Because of this, the committee objected to the proposal and opposed it,” one of the members told The Hindu. The committee’s decision would be communicated to the government soon, she added.
Other universities
The University of Kerala and Mahatma Gandhi University are offering courses on Jyothisha or Vedic Astrology. Colleges offering undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses and research facilities include the Government Sanskrit College, Thiruvananthapuram, and the Government Sanskrit College, Tripunithura, Ernakulam.
The article has been corrected for factual error
Published – June 24, 2026 08:13 pm IST