The Ministry of Education is currently drafting a bill to establish the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), envisioned as a unified regulatory body for the higher education sector, the Lok Sabha was informed earlier this week.
In a written response to a parliamentary question, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said the move aligns with the goals outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for a “light but tight” regulatory framework. The proposed model aims to promote transparency, accountability, and resource efficiency, while also encouraging institutional autonomy and innovation.
“The NEP 2020 envisions setting up of a Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) as an umbrella body with independent verticals to perform distinct functions of regulation, accreditation, funding and academic standard setting,” Majumdar stated.
The HECI is proposed to replace existing regulatory bodies—the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)—which currently oversee different segments of higher education. While UGC governs non-technical higher education, AICTE regulates technical education, and NCTE is responsible for teacher education standards.
The idea of a single higher education regulator is not new. A draft Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill was earlier introduced in 2018 and placed in the public domain for feedback from stakeholders. However, progress was gradual until Dharmendra Pradhan assumed charge as Union Education Minister in July 2021, after which efforts to revive the proposal gained momentum.
