Paper: GS – II, Subject: Governance, Topic: Education, Issue: Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, 2025.
Context:
The Centre’s proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, 2025.
Key Takeaways:
Key Points of the HECI Bill, 2025:
- Objective: To constitute a single regulatory authority for higher education in India.
- Merger of Existing Bodies: The bill seeks to merge the functions of three statutory bodies:
- University Grants Commission (UGC)
- National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)
- All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
- Timing: The bill is expected to be tabled in the winter session of Parliament.
- Rationale: The move is based on the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Background and Context:
- NEP 2020 Recommendation: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommended the formation of a single regulatory authority to streamline higher education regulation.
- Previous Attempt (2018 Bill): A similar bill was drafted in 2018 to replace the UGC with the HECI but faced opposition and was stalled.
Proposed Structure of HECI: Four Verticals (as proposed by NEP 2020):
- National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC): To regulate all fields except medical and legal education.
- National Accreditation Council (NAC): An accrediting body.
- General Education Council (GEC): To frame learning outcomes.
- Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC): For funding.
- Independence: Each vertical will be an independent body with experts in relevant areas.
- Composition: HECI will be a small, independent body of eminent public-spirited experts in higher education.
- Funding: Funding decisions are likely to remain with the government.
Concerns and Criticisms of the 2018 Higher Education Bill:
The HECI Bill 2025 aims to unify higher education regulation, enhancing quality and autonomy while balancing centralization with representation, institutional freedom, and accountability.
https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-indian-express/20251127/282183657349549
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