Parliament is set to consider a significant change to India’s higher education governance during the winter session beginning on 1 December, with the government preparing to introduce the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill.

According to the Lok Sabha bulletin, the Bill proposes a single regulatory authority to replace existing bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The new regulator will not cover medical or legal education, which will continue under their respective bodies.

The proposal aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommended one consolidated regulator to streamline oversight across higher education. At present, the UGC oversees non-technical higher education, the AICTE regulates technical institutions and the NCTE handles teacher education.

The HECI will focus on regulation, accreditation and setting professional standards. Funding responsibilities will remain with the administrative ministry to ensure separation between regulatory and financial functions.

The idea of a single regulator has been under discussion for several years. A draft HECI Bill was released in 2018 but did not progress. Efforts resumed in 2021 after Dharmendra Pradhan took charge as Union Education Minister.

The introduction of the HECI Bill marks the next phase in restructuring the higher education framework. Parliamentary deliberations will determine the course of the proposed reforms.

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