New Bill to transform higher education governance gets nod

The Union Cabinet has approved the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill, a landmark proposal to establish a unified regulatory authority for higher education in India. The Bill seeks to replace existing statutory bodies, including the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), with a single regulator.

The ongoing Winter Session of Parliament will introduce the legislation, previously known as the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill. The move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which calls for a streamlined and efficient governance framework through the creation of a single regulatory body for higher education. 

The proposed regulator will consolidate the functions of the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE, covering academic regulation, accreditation, and the setting of professional and academic standards across higher education institutions. Medical and legal education will remain outside its purview. The new authority will be in charge of academic and quality-related matters, but the administrative ministry will still be in charge of funding and financial independence, not the regulator itself.

The newly approved Bill represents a renewed effort to implement the NEP 2020 vision, with a broader scope that brings technical and teacher education under a single regulatory framework. NEP 2020 had recommended separating higher education governance into distinct verticals, regulation, accreditation, academic standards, and funding, to reduce duplication and improve efficiency.

The Bill retains a unified regulatory authority; the decision to keep financial control with the government reflects a partial adoption of the policy’s original structure, balancing central oversight with administrative accountability.