CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
The Ministry of Education is in the process of drafting legislation to establish the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) a unified body aimed at streamlining the regulation of higher education across the country. This development, recently shared in the Lok Sabha, is a key step in realising the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 goal of a simplified and efficient regulatory framework.
Rationale Behind Creating HECI
Currently, India’s higher education is managed by multiple regulatory authorities. The University Grants Commission (UGC) supervises general higher education, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) regulates technical fields, and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) is responsible for teacher training. This fragmented system has often led to duplication of work, inefficiency, and regulatory confusion. NEP 2020 advocates for a modernised system that ensures transparency, efficiency, and innovation through a unified regulator.
NEP 2020 And Vision For Reform
The National Education Policy 2020 calls for a radical transformation in the governance of higher education. It suggests establishing a single umbrella body HECI that will operate through four independent verticals, each responsible for a key aspect:
Regulation
Accreditation
Funding
Academic Standards
This structure is designed to ensure autonomy while maintaining high standards in institutional performance and curriculum development. It promotes public accountability through regular audits and disclosures.
Functional Structure Of HECI
HECI will absorb the functions of UGC, AICTE, and NCTE, functioning through clearly demarcated divisions:
The Regulatory Division will enforce quality standards and institutional compliance.
The Accreditation Division will oversee evaluations of educational institutions and programmes.
The Funding Division will allocate and monitor financial grants.
The Academic Standards Division will set norms for curricula, research, and pedagogy.
This compartmentalisation aims to eliminate overlap, minimise conflicts of interest, and improve governance outcomes.
Legislative Developments And Progress
The idea of forming HECI dates back to 2018 when a draft bill was first proposed to repeal the UGC Act. Public feedback was invited at the time, but the bill did not advance. The Ministry resumed efforts in 2021, and now confirms that a revised draft is under preparation. However, no formal date has been declared for its introduction in Parliament.
Anticipated Impact On Education Sector
If established, HECI is expected to simplify the regulatory landscape, reducing red tape and enabling greater flexibility for institutions. It could encourage educational innovation and elevate quality by ensuring consistent oversight. The move also aligns India’s higher education system with global practices, promoting better governance, transparency, and responsiveness to modern academic needs.
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