The Union Cabinet has approved a bill to establish a single higher education regulator that will replace existing bodies such as the UGC and AICTE. Initially named the Higher Education Commission of India
(HECI) Bill, it is now called the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill.
This new regulatory body, proposed in the National Education Policy (NEP), aims to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
The new commission will oversee regulation, accreditation, and setting professional standards, but medical and law colleges will not fall under its purview. Funding, considered a fourth vertical, will remain with the administrative ministry.
“The bill to set up Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan has been approved by the Cabinet,” an official told PTI.
In 2018, the government introduced a draft HECI Bill for public review, proposing to replace the UGC Act with a new regulatory framework. Though the draft did not progress, the idea persisted. It gained momentum again in 2021 when Dharmendra Pradhan became the Union Education Minister, with efforts continuing in alignment with the National Education Policy.
What Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan May Look Like?
Officials familiar with the draft indicate that the body will likely follow the NEP 2020’s recommended structure, operating through four verticals:
National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) – Primary regulator
National Accreditation Council (NAC) – Accreditation and quality benchmarks
General Education Council (GEC) – Academic frameworks and learning outcomes
Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) – Funding norms
The NEP-2020 emphasises the necessity of overhauling the regulatory framework to enhance the functioning of universities and colleges. It suggests distinct bodies for regulation, accreditation, funding, and academic standards, each with well-defined roles. Lawmakers are expected to scrutinise proposed changes, determining how this long-discussed reform should proceed and its potential impact on the future of the higher education system.
