Higher Education Bill in Parliament soon; know more

The Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, aimed at establishing a unified higher education regulatory body, is set to be introduced in Parliament soon. However, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has clarified that medical and law colleges will not fall under its jurisdiction.

Pradhan has outlined three key responsibilities of the HECI: Regulation, accreditation, and setting professional standards. Notably, funding will remain outside the purview of the HECI, with autonomy over funding retained by the respective administrative ministries.

Pradhan stated that the HECI bill in Parliament will be introduced, after which there will be standing committee scrutiny. There are three major verticals, he elaborated, first is a regulatory role, which UGC (University Grants Commission) does, second is accreditation at two levels that includes accreditation of colleges, programmes and courses. In addition, a committee under Dr Radhakrishnan has been set up for revamping the NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). Third is setting professional standards about what will be taught and how it will be taught.

The HECI, proposed in the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is intended to replace the UGC, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). Each of these bodies currently oversees different aspects of higher education.

The concept of the HECI has been previously discussed through a draft bill. The draft Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill, 2018, which seeks to repeal the UGC Act and establish the HECI, was made available for public feedback and stakeholder consultation in 2018.

At present, renewed efforts to actualise the HECI were undertaken under Pradhan’s leadership. Moreover, the NEP-2020 document underscores the necessity of a revamped regulatory system to invigorate the higher education sector and enable its growth.