New Delhi. ; India’s higher education system is set for a major structural reform following the Union Cabinet’s approval of a landmark bill to establish a single regulatory authority for higher education.
The proposed legislation, earlier referred to as the Higher Education Commission of India Bill, has now been renamed the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill. Once implemented, the new law will replace existing regulatory bodies including the University Grants Commission, the All India Council for Technical Education, and the National Council for Teacher Education.
The move aligns with a key objective of the National Education Policy 2020, which called for simplifying and strengthening the regulatory framework governing higher education in India. The policy highlighted the challenges posed by multiple regulators with overlapping roles and stressed the need for a unified and transparent system.
Unified Regulation for Non-Medical and Non-Law Education
Under the new framework, the proposed commission will be responsible for regulation, accreditation, and setting academic and professional standards across higher education institutions. Medical and legal education will remain outside its jurisdiction.
While regulation and quality assurance will be consolidated under the new body, funding will not be transferred at this stage. Financial oversight will continue to rest with the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. The government may consider setting up a separate Higher Education Funding Authority in the future, as envisioned in earlier drafts of the NEP.
End of Multiple Regulatory Bodies
For decades, India’s higher education ecosystem has been governed by different agencies with distinct mandates. The UGC has regulated non-technical higher education, AICTE has overseen technical institutions, and NCTE has managed teacher education. This fragmented structure has often led to duplication of processes and regulatory complexity.
The NEP 2020 described the existing regulatory system as requiring a comprehensive overhaul and recommended clearly defined, empowered institutions to ensure academic quality and accountability.
Long Road to Reform
The idea of a single higher education regulator was first proposed through a draft bill released in 2018. Renewed momentum came after the formation of the current government and subsequent policy push following the appointment of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in 2021.
With Cabinet approval now secured, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill marks a significant step toward reshaping India’s higher education governance and creating a more streamlined and future-ready regulatory system.
Click Here for More Latest News