HECI bill in progress aims to unify higher education regulation

The Ministry of Education has begun drafting a bill to establish the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), which is intended to function as a single regulatory authority for higher education.

The move aims to streamline oversight currently split among multiple bodies.

In a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said the commission would align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s goal of creating a “light but tight” regulatory system.

“The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions a 'light but tight' regulatory framework to ensure integrity, transparency, and resource efficiency of the educational system through audit and public disclosure while encouraging innovation and out-of-the-box ideas through autonomy, good governance, and empowerment,” Majumdar said.

He added that the commission is being planned as an umbrella organization with independent arms for regulation, accreditation, funding, and setting academic standards.

“The NEP 2020 further envisions setting up 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. Considering the above vision of NEP 2020, the ministry is in the process of drafting an HECI bill,” he said.

The HECI is expected to eventually replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

These existing bodies currently oversee non-technical education, technical education, and teacher training programs, respectively.

Although the concept of a unified higher education regulator has been in discussion for years, the first formal step was taken in 2018, when a draft Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill was released for public consultation.

Since Dharmendra Pradhan took charge as the Union Education Minister in July 2021, the initiative has gained momentum.

NEP 2020 strongly advocates for restructuring the regulatory landscape, stating, “The regulatory system is in need of a complete overhaul in order to re-energize the higher education sector and enable it to thrive.”