The Union Cabinet has approved the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill 2025 (earlier known as the Higher Education Commission of India Bill), a major reform aimed at improving India’s higher education system. The Bill proposes a single, unified regulatory body to replace multiple regulators, including the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
Objectives of the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill
The Bill seeks to create a transparent, outcome-focused system to regulate higher education while promoting institutional autonomy and accountability. Its key objectives include:
- Establishing a single national regulator for higher education
- Reducing regulatory overlap and duplication
- Improving quality, accreditation, and academic standards
- Strengthening global competitiveness of Indian institutions
- Ensuring inclusive growth across regions and social groups
Key Provisions of the Bill
The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill introduces structural, regulatory, and academic reforms through a unified framework. Key provisions include:
- Unified Higher Education Regulator: Creation of Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) as a statutory body replacing UGC, AICTE, and NCTE, covering universities, colleges, and higher educational institutions, excluding medical and law education.
- Core Regulatory Functions: Regulation to ensure compliance, accreditation to assess quality, and standards setting to define learning outcomes.
- Vertical Councils under VBSA:
- Viksit Bharat Shiksha Viniyaman Parishad (Regulatory Council)
- Viksit Bharat Shiksha Gunvatta Parishad (Accreditation Council)
- Viksit Bharat Shiksha Manak Parishad (Standards Council)
- Autonomy and Accountability Measures: Graded autonomy for accredited institutions, mandatory public disclosure of finances, faculty, and outcomes, and transparent grievance redressal for students.
- Funding and Administrative Control: VBSA will not control institutional funding, which remains with the administrative ministry.
Scope and Coverage
The Bill applies to 1,168 universities, 45,473 colleges, and 12,002 standalone institutions, including open, distance, online, and digital education. Professional programmes in medical, dental, nursing, and allied health are excluded, while law, pharmacy, and veterinary education remain under existing councils.
Structure and Governance of VBSA
VBSA will function as the apex statutory body with a Chairperson appointed by the President of India and up to 12 members, including academic experts and officials. The three independent councils under VBSA will handle regulation, accreditation, and standards. Members are selected through a search-cum-selection process with fixed tenure, ensuring statutory accountability.
Significance of the Bill
The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill marks a structural shift in higher education governance by:
- Simplifying regulatory processes and reducing institutional overlap
- Enhancing transparency and accountability
- Promoting outcome-based education and institutional autonomy
- Supporting inclusive growth and global competitiveness of Indian institutions
The reform aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 vision to make Indian universities more globally competitive, accountable, and innovative, preparing students for evolving knowledge and workforce needs.
