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Education Ministry Drafting Bill to Establish Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), Replacing UGC, AICTE, NCTE

  • Writer: swathikainfo
    swathikainfo
  • Jul 24
  • 2 min read

The Ministry of Education has confirmed that it is actively working on drafting a comprehensive bill to create the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), which will serve as a unified regulatory body for higher education in India. The new body is designed to streamline governance by replacing existing regulators like the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).


Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar informed the Lok Sabha that the proposed legislation aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which envisions a simplified and efficient regulatory mechanism to oversee the higher education landscape in India.

Push for HECI gained momentum after Dharmendra Pradhan became Education Ministe
Push for HECI gained momentum after Dharmendra Pradhan became Education Ministe

A Single Regulator for Higher Education

“The Ministry is in the process of drafting the HECI bill,” Majumdar announced. “The NEP 2020 proposes the establishment of HECI as a single body that will oversee regulation, accreditation, funding, and academic standards across all higher education institutions in India.”


Currently, the UGC supervises non-technical education, AICTE governs technical programs, and NCTE is responsible for teacher training institutions. The move to consolidate these bodies under HECI is aimed at ensuring transparency, fostering innovation, and improving governance.


Background and Policy Push

The concept of HECI was first proposed in 2018 through a draft bill seeking to repeal the UGC Act, though progress had been gradual. However, since Dharmendra Pradhan assumed charge as Union Education Minister in July 2021, efforts to establish HECI have accelerated.


The NEP 2020 provides the foundational vision for this restructuring, calling for a “light but tight” regulatory framework that reduces bureaucratic oversight while enforcing quality standards through public audits and disclosures.


Separate Vertical Functions

The proposed HECI will operate through four distinct verticals:


  1. National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) – Regulatory Oversight

  2. National Accreditation Council (NAC) – Accreditation Process

  3. Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) – Funding Mechanism

  4. General Education Council (GEC) – Academic Standard Setting


Each of these verticals will function independently but within the larger framework of HECI, promoting autonomy and accountability among higher education institutions.


Reform in Line with Global Best Practices

Majumdar emphasized that the current regulatory system needs a complete overhaul to revitalise India’s higher education sector. The shift towards HECI aims to reduce redundancy, enhance resource efficiency, and position India’s educational framework on par with global standards.


The draft bill is expected to be opened for public consultation once finalized, marking a significant step towards transforming India’s higher education governance.

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