The Union Cabinet has approved the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill, a major step toward reshaping the way higher education is regulated in India. The Bill aims to set up a unified authority that will replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The government plans to introduce the Bill in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.
This new move is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which suggested a single regulatory body to make the system simpler and more efficient. Under the proposal, the new regulator will handle academic rules, accreditation, and professional standards for all higher education institutions except medical and legal colleges. However, the responsibility for funding and financial decisions will stay with the administrative ministry.
The idea of one regulator is not new. A similar version called the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill was drafted in 2018. At the time, it aimed to end the UGC Act and create a central regulatory commission, but it faced criticism over fears of too much central control. The government did not move forward with it then. Now, with the updated Bill, the Centre hopes to bring more clarity, transparency, and uniformity across the higher education system.
Purpose & Expected Benefits of the New Higher Education Regulator
The main aim of creating a single higher education regulator is to avoid duplication of work caused by multiple bodies like UGC, AICTE, and NCTE. With one authority, colleges will no longer need to submit the same documents to different regulators, making the process faster and easier.
The new system is expected to improve transparency and accountability, as all rules and checks will come from one source. This will help maintain uniform standards across universities and make it simpler for students to understand which courses and institutions are properly approved.
Overall, the change is likely to improve the quality of higher education by reducing delays, simplifying procedures, and giving institutions a clearer and more efficient regulatory framework.
Future Steps After the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill
Once the Bill is passed in Parliament, the government is expected to release detailed rules and guidelines outlining how the new higher education regulator will function. These guidelines will clarify procedures for accreditation, academic standards, course approvals, and institutional monitoring.
Colleges and universities may need to update their compliance processes, including documentation, reporting systems, and academic regulations, to match the new framework. Institutions that were earlier governed separately by UGC, AICTE, or NCTE will now align their practices with a single set of rules.
The government may also introduce the new system in phases, starting with a pilot rollout in selected regions or institutions. This gradual approach would help identify challenges and refine the implementation before the regulator becomes fully operational across the country.
