Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
11h ago

Education Ministry Begins Drafting Higher Education Commission Bill

It will replace three existing regulators with an umbrella commission structured around distinct verticals for regulation, accreditation, funding and academic standards.

MoE in process of drafting bill for unified higher education body: MoS to Lok Sabha
Image

Overview

  • Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar told the Lok Sabha that the ministry has moved from policy planning into formal legislation drafting for the HECI.
  • The proposed commission will absorb oversight of non-technical, technical and teacher education functions now handled by UGC, AICTE and NCTE.
  • Alignment with NEP 2020’s “light but tight” approach aims to boost transparency, institutional autonomy and resource efficiency through audit and public disclosure.
  • The HECI concept first surfaced in a 2018 draft bill to repeal the UGC Act and gained renewed traction under Dharmendra Pradhan after July 2021.
  • A February parliamentary panel review raised concerns about centralisation risks and the viability of rural colleges as the draft bill takes shape.