UGC, AICTE, NCTE to Merge: Cabinet Approves Major Overhaul in Higher Education

In a landmark decision for India’s higher education sector, the Union Cabinet has approved the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill, formerly known as the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill. This legislation will replace the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE with a single, unified higher education regulator, streamlining governance and boosting academic quality.

A Single Regulator for Higher Education
The new regulator will oversee non-medical and non-law higher education institutions, consolidating functions previously handled by multiple bodies:

• UGC – Oversaw non-technical higher education.
• AICTE – Regulated technical education.
• NCTE – Focused on teacher education.

While medical and law colleges will remain outside its scope, the single regulator will handle regulation, accreditation, and professional standards. Funding, considered the fourth vertical, will continue to be managed by the administrative ministry, maintaining financial autonomy.

Benefits of the Unified System
Officials say the unified regulator will simplify processes and improve efficiency in both public and private institutions. Greater focus will be placed on the quality of higher education and learning outcomes, while reducing conflicts of interest and minimizing micro-management. The move is expected to create a transparent and robust regulatory framework for Indian higher education.

Background and Implementation
The idea of a unified higher education commission has been under discussion since the draft HECI Bill of 2018, which aimed to repeal the UGC Act and create a centralized regulator. With the NEP-2020 emphasizing the need for a reformed regulatory system, the new legislation ensures that regulation, accreditation, funding, and academic standards are handled by distinct, empowered, and independent bodies.

This reform marks a historic transformation in India’s higher education landscape, promising streamlined governance, improved academic standards, and enhanced institutional autonomy.