Centre’s Higher Education Commission of India Bill 2025

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 –Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.

Introduction

Five years after NEP 2020 proposed a single higher education regulator, the Union government plans to introduce the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill 2025 in the winter session, aiming to replace multiple regulatory bodies and reorganise regulation and accreditation in higher education. Centre’s Higher Education Commission of India Bill 2025.

Historical Context of HECI Bill 2025

• Attempts to create a unified regulator began with the 2018 HECI draft Bill, which aimed to repeal the UGC Act but did not subsume AICTE and NCTE.
• It faced criticism over centralisation and reduced university autonomy, leading to its withdrawal.
• Renewal efforts started under Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in 2021, aligning the proposal with NEP 2020, which called for structural reform and clearer separation of regulatory functions.

Centre’s Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill 2025

NEP 2020 vision and current structure

• NEP 2020 highlights the current regulatory system as heavy-handed, with concentrated powers, conflicts of interest and weak accountability. It proposes an overarching HECI to replace the UGC, AICTE and NCTE to minimise red tape.
• The HECI Bill 2025 is likely to follow NEP 2020’s recommendations on a single overarching regulator and separation of core functions.
• Currently, UGC regulates non-technical education, AICTE manages technical institutions, and NCTE oversees teacher education.
• The Bill aims to create a commission enabling higher education institutions to function as independent self-governing bodies, promoting excellence through transparent accreditation and autonomy frameworks.

Commission Structure

• The earlier 2018 draft proposed a chairperson, vice-chairperson and 12 members appointed by the Centre, including AICTE and NCTE heads.
• The updated proposal is likely to follow NEP 2020, where HECI will be a small expert-led body, supervising four verticals.
• Each vertical will have independent experts with integrity and proven public service background, ensuring specialised oversight. Although the NEP proposes a funding vertical, funding powers are expected to remain with the government, not with HECI.

Key Provisions of the Bill

1. Unified Regulation – HECI will function as a single authority for technical and non-technical higher education institutions, simplifying processes.
2. Repeal and Replacement – The Bill seeks to repeal the UGC Act (1956) and merge the UGC, AICTE and NCTE into HECI.
3. HECI’s Four Verticals under NEP 2020

• The National Higher Education Regulatory Council to regulate all fields except medical and legal education;
• The National Accreditation Council as an accrediting body;
• The General Education Council to frame learning outcomes; and
• The Higher Education Grants Council for funding.

4. Independent Expert Bodies – Each vertical functions independently, overseen by HECI experts to ensure integrity and effectiveness.
5. Exclusion of Specific Sectors – Medical and law colleges remain outside HECI’s jurisdiction.
6. Institutional Autonomy Promotion – HECI will encourage institutions to strengthen autonomy without compromising academic quality.

Potential Impact on Higher Education

1. Simplified Governance: Institutions may experience faster approvals and reduced bureaucratic hurdles
2. Enhanced Quality and Credibility: Uniform standards and professional benchmarks could strengthen the global recognition of Indian degrees.
3. Academic Autonomy: Clear separation of regulation and funding may allow universities to pursue research, collaborations, and innovation more freely.
4. Policy Clarity: A single regulator could provide coherent guidelines, reducing conflicts between overlapping authorities.

Potential Concerns Regarding HECI Bill 2025

1. Centralisation and Autonomy Concerns: A commission dominated by central authority, coupled with funding control retained by the ministry, may lead to excessive centralisation and weakened institutional autonomy.
2. Representation Gaps: Critics observed that earlier structures lacked inclusion of women, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, backward castes and persons with disabilities, while industry stakeholders were explicitly accommodated, raising concerns over equitable participation.
3. Centre–State Funding Imbalance: Some states fear a shift from full central support to a 60:40 cost-sharing model, which could affect fair fund allocation and burden-sharing.
4. Ambiguity in State Role:,A parliamentary committee warned that insufficient state representation could cause universities to face conflicting central and state regulatory requirements, creating compliance challenges.

Conclusion

The HECI Bill 2025 seeks to replace fragmented regulatory systems with a unified framework aligned with NEP 2020, focusing on regulation, accreditation and academic standards while leaving funding decisions with the ministry. Its success will depend on preventing centralisation, ensuring fair representation—including states and disadvantaged groups—and protecting institutional autonomy alongside stable funding mechanisms. The effectiveness of reform will rely on how well these concerns are addressed during implementation.

Question for practice

Discuss the key provisions, potential impact and major concerns associated with the Centre’s Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill 2025.

Source: Indian Express