Govt prepares bill to create unified higher education regulator

The Ministry of Education is drafting a new bill to establish the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). This body would replace three existing regulators: the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

Why This Change?

NEP 2020 Vision: The National Education Policy 2020 proposes a “light but tight” regulatory model. It aims to be transparent, efficient, and trustworthy promoting innovation and autonomy while still ensuring standards are followed.

Reduce Complexity: Currently, UGC handles non-technical higher education, AICTE oversees technical colleges, and NCTE governs teacher education. Merging them into HECI would remove overlapping roles and streamline processes.

What HECI Will Do

The proposed HECI will operate through four separate divisions:

Regulation – Ensuring institutions follow legal and academic rules.

Accreditation – Evaluating and certifying education quality.

Funding – Allocating public grants and financial resources.

Standards – Setting academic benchmarks and performance criteria.

Past Efforts & New Momentum

Initial Proposal (2018): An early version called the HECI Bill was released in 2018 to gather public feedback. It suggested repealing the UGC Act of 1956.

Push Since 2021: The movement gained traction when Dharmendra Pradhan became Education Minister in July 2021. That led to revisiting the draft and pushing ahead under NEP 2020.

Latest Update (July 2025): On July 21, 2025, Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar informed the Lok Sabha that drafting of the bill is actively underway.

What It Means for Students & Institutions

Simplified Regulation: A single body would make it easier for colleges and universities to understand and follow rules.

Enhanced Quality: Accreditation systems under HECI aim to raise teaching standards.

Transparency: Designed to audit institutions and publicly share performance data.

Vehicle for Reform: Helps align India’s higher education system with international standards and modern expectations.