Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday. The Bill proposes a single regulator for higher education in India. It seeks to replace existing bodies such as the University Grants Commission, the All India Council for Technical Education, and the National Council for Teacher Education.
The proposed law aims to grant universities greater functional autonomy while ensuring quality through a transparent and unified accreditation framework.
What the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025 Proposes?
The Bill provides for the establishment of a new statutory body called the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan. This body will be responsible for setting academic standards, coordinating policy, regulating institutions, and supporting higher education growth across the country.
The commission will have 12 members and will function through three key wings: the Regulatory Council, the Accreditation Council, and the Standards Council. Members will include the heads of these councils, the Union higher education secretary, two senior professors from state universities, five domain experts, and a member secretary. All appointments will be made by the central government.
Accreditation Council Role Under Shiksha Adhishthan Bill
The Accreditation Council will assess and rate colleges and universities using a common quality framework. The Bill states that accreditation will rely on online and technology-driven systems.
The council will approve and deregister accreditation agencies, monitor their performance, publish accreditation outcomes, and recommend penalties for violations. It will also work towards ensuring that all higher education institutions in India are brought under an accreditation system.
Standards Council Functions for Academic Quality
The Standards Council will define academic benchmarks across disciplines. It will set learning outcomes, guide curriculum design, and frame policies to integrate vocational education with higher education.
The council will also determine the levels and naming of certificates and diplomas, promote Indian knowledge systems and languages, and recommend minimum qualifications for faculty members and academic staff.
Regulatory Council Powers and Compliance Rules
The Regulatory Council will oversee transparency and compliance in higher education institutions. Institutions will be required to disclose details related to finances, audits, faculty strength, courses offered, and academic outcomes.
The council will act against financial or administrative irregularities, address student grievances, prevent commercialisation of education, and set conditions for foreign universities operating in India.
Penalties Prescribed Under the Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025
The Bill empowers the Regulatory Council to impose graded penalties. A first violation will attract a notice seeking corrective action. Continued non-compliance can lead to a minimum fine of INR 10 lakh.
A second violation may result in fines up to INR 30 lakh, removal of responsible officials, curtailment of autonomy, or stoppage of grants. Repeated violations can attract penalties of INR 75 lakh or more, including suspension of degree-awarding powers or closure of institutions.
Setting up a college or university without government approval can attract a fine of at least INR 2 crore and immediate closure.
Transition From UGC and AICTE to New Regulator
Once implemented, the laws governing the UGC Act 1956, AICTE Act 1987, and NCTE Act 1993 will be repealed. Existing rules will remain in force until replaced by new regulations.
During the transition period, interim leadership will be appointed for up to two years. The central government will retain overriding powers to suspend or replace the commission if it fails to function as directed.
