A bill to establish a single, unified higher education regulator has received the Cabinet’s clearance, officials confirmed on Friday, December 12, 2025.
The legislation, initially referred to as the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, is now titled the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill.
If enacted, the proposed regulator would replace existing bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
“A Cabinet-approved bill to establish Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan has been approved by the Cabinet,” an official stated.
Presently, the UGC governs non-technical higher education, the AICTE handles technical education, and the NCTE regulates teachers’ education.
The plan is to create a single higher education regulator, though medical and law colleges would remain outside its remit. The bill envisions three core functions: regulation, accreditation, and the setting of professional standards.
Funding would not be included under the regulator at this stage; instead, financial autonomy is proposed to reside with the administrative ministry.
The concept of HECI has appeared previously in draft form. A 2018 draft bill titled Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill proposed abolishing the UGC Act and establishing the Higher Education Commission of India, inviting public feedback and stakeholder consultation.
Efforts to realize HECI gained momentum again under Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after he took office in July 2021.
The NEP-2020 document stresses the importance of a single regulator, noting that the regulatory framework needs a comprehensive overhaul to revitalize the higher education sector and support its growth.
It further emphasizes that the new system should allocate distinct, independent, and empowered bodies to handle regulation, accreditation, funding, and the setting of academic standards.
