The development comes at a time when the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025 has sparked widespread debate and criticism across the country. Opposition MPs have alleged that the bill weakens the autonomy of states and universities, disrupts the federal structure and seeks to impose Hindi through excessive Sanskritisation. Critics argue that such provisions threaten academic freedom. This broader policy debate forms an important backdrop to IRMA transition and reinforces the university emphasis on sector focused education and institutional independence.

Leaders at IRMA have recalled the limitations they faced earlier under regulatory frameworks governing higher education. They noted that the institute previously lacked the autonomy to design programs according to its own academic and industry needs. As a result, curricular innovations were often restricted. For example, although IRMA had planned to include two internships in its programs, it was compelled to limit this to one due to regulatory constraints.

Academic operations were also tightly controlled. The leadership pointed out that even classroom hours were prescribed by regulators, forcing the institute to compromise on certain academic parameters it considered important. These experiences, they said, strengthened an internal demand for greater autonomy in academic and program design.

Following the reorganisation, IRMA now functions as a school within Tribhuvan Sahkari University, while continuing to uphold its original vision and mission. According to the leadership, the objective was to carry forward IRMA’s ethos into the new university framework. Faculty members and governance bodies from IRMA remain actively involved as the university expands its reach, strengthens research and develops academic programs that are distinct from conventional management institutions, with a clear focus on the cooperative sector.