The Indian government has introduced the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill in Parliament’s winter session. This legislation aims to create a single regulatory body for higher education, replacing the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The cabinet cleared the bill, formerly known as the HECI Bill, on Friday evening, with copies distributed to Members of Parliament on Sunday.
The new body, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA), will centralize regulation of higher education institutions. It introduces significant changes, including an honorary chairperson, no dedicated teacher representatives, and substantial penalties for non-compliance.
New Regulatory Framework
The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan will operate with three specialized councils, each headed by a president. These councils are designed to coordinate, accredit, and set standards across higher education.
- Viksit Bharat Shiksha Viniyaman Parishad (Regulatory Council): This council will manage standards, grant graded autonomy to institutions, and establish guidelines for foreign universities operating in India. It will also facilitate colleges achieving accreditation for autonomous, degree-granting status and develop roadmaps for new institutions. The council has powers for swift corrective action within 60 days for breaches.
- Viksit Bharat Shiksha Gunvatta Parishad (Accreditation Council): Responsible for overseeing an independent accreditation system, this body can empanel third-party agencies to conduct accreditation. It will develop an Institutional Accreditation Framework, monitor accrediting bodies, and implement the National Education Policy’s (NEP 2020) Institutional Development Plan (IDP).
- Viksit Bharat Shiksha Manak Parishad (Standards Council): This council will define expected learning outcomes for higher education programs. Its functions include integrating vocational education and setting qualification standards for different levels of study.
Leadership and Composition
The VBSA will be led by a chairperson, appointed in an honorary capacity . This differs from the UGC’s previous whole-time, salaried chairperson. The chairperson’s initial term is three years, extendable to five. The UGC chairperson served a five-year term.
The commission will consist of a maximum of 12 members. This includes the three council presidents and the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Education as ex-officio members. Seven part-time members will also serve: two academics of professor rank from state institutions and five eminent experts. A full-time member secretary will function as the chief executive officer.
Notably, the proposed law does not provide for teacher representatives, a feature present in the UGC Act.
New Powers and Penalties
The bill grants the VBSA substantial powers to impose penalties for regulatory breaches. Fines start at Rs 10 lakh and can increase to Rs 75 lakh . For establishing a university or higher education institution without government approval, the fine is set at Rs 2 crore , along with immediate closure.
The regulatory council can recommend various punitive measures. These include firing individuals, reviewing institutional autonomy, withholding government grants, modifying or suspending degree-granting rights, or advising governments to revoke affiliation or order closures.
Funding Structure
Funding mechanisms will change under the VBSA. The new body’s direct funding powers are limited to its own councils. For broader education funding, the VBSA will recommend schemes to the Education Ministry. It will maintain its own fund, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Fund, for central government grants.
Dissolution of Existing Bodies
The bill repeals the existing UGC Act, AICTE Act, and NCTE Act. Consequently, the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE will be dissolved. Their chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and members will vacate office and receive compensation not exceeding three months’ allowances. Regular employees of these bodies will transfer to the VBSA under existing terms.
The Council of Architecture (CoA) will also cease regulatory powers. It will transition into a Professional Standard Setting Body (PSSB) as envisioned by NEP 2020. The CoA will gain representation in all three VBSA councils to help set academic standards and curricula for architecture.
Other professional councils, including those for law, medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary sciences, will retain their existing regulatory functions. They remain outside the VBSA’s direct regulatory purview.
Transition Period
A two-year transition period is provided for. During this time, all rules and regulations established by the existing regulatory bodies will remain in effect. This ensures a smooth shift to the new framework.