Higher Education Commission of India bill

News:Government is likely to introduce the Higher Education Commission of India(HECI) Bill in the winter session of Parliament.

Facts:

Key features of the bill:

• The bill aims to create a Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) replacing the University Grants Commission(UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE).
• The bill proposes to bring almost all areas of higher education including technical, architectural and legal courses except medical education under the ambit of a HECI.
• The HECI will maintain academic standards in higher education by (a)specifying learning outcomes for courses (b)specifying eligibility criteria for Vice Chancellors and (c)ordering closure of higher educational institutions which fail to adhere to minimum standards.
• The bill says that person appointed as Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Members shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or upto 70 years of age.
• Further, the bill provides for a new autonomous body which will be created to supervise the doling out of funds to higher education institutions.

Additional information:

About UGC:

• The University Grants Commission of India (UGC India) is a statutory body set up by the Indian Union government in accordance to the UGC Act,1956 under Ministry of Human Resource Development.
• It is charged with coordination,determination and maintenance of standards of higher education.It provides recognition to universities in India and disburses funds to such recognised universities and colleges.

About AICTE:

• The All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE) is the statutory body and a national-level council for technical education.
• It works under Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development.
• It was initially established in 1945 as an advisory body and later on in 1987 given statutory status by an Act of Parliament.
• AICTE is responsible for proper planning and coordinated development of the technical education and management education system in India.