The Ministry of Education, Government of India, is in the process of drafting a bill to establish the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). This proposed commission will function as a single, unified authority to oversee higher education, replacing multiple 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). The plan was shared in a written reply to the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar, earlier this week on July 21, 2025. This structural change is part of the vision laid out in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends that a more efficient, transparent, and flexible system should be created to oversee higher education in India. NAAC and NBA will be merged into HECI’s accreditation wing, adopting a U.S.-style peer-review system to ensure a unified, consistent, and globally aligned quality framework.
About Higher Education Commission of India
The Higher Education Commission of India will function as an umbrella body that will bring under one roof the responsibilities of regulation, accreditation, funding, and standard-setting. At present, everything is being managed by separate agencies. By combining these functions into one authority, the government aims to simplify administration, reduce duplication, and bring uniformity across different sectors of higher education, including general, technical, and teacher education.
Minister Sukanta Majumdar stated that NEP 2020 envisions a “light but tight” regulatory approach aimed at ensuring integrity, transparency, and efficient use of resources in the education system. It will also promote innovation, autonomy, and public accountability through audits and disclosures.
Why is Change Needed?
At present, the UGC handles non-technical higher education, AICTE oversees technical education, and NCTE is responsible for regulating teacher education. However, these agencies operate independently with separate procedures, often resulting in overlaps, lack of coordination, and administrative inefficiencies.
The NEP 2020 had strongly emphasised the need for a comprehensive regulatory overhaul. It noted that the current regulatory system is outdated, overly bureaucratic, and ill-equipped to handle the needs of a rapidly changing education landscape. With increasing demand for interdisciplinary domains, digital learning, and research-driven education, the current system falls short in delivering the necessary support and flexibility to institutions.
After its formation, the Higher Education Commission of India will have four main branches, each handling a specific responsibility. The National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) will take care of the rules and policies. The National Accreditation Council (NAC) will assess the quality of colleges and provide accreditation. The Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) will manage funding for institutions. Lastly, the General Education Council (GEC) will decide academic standards and what students should study. This new setup is aimed at making higher education more systematic, efficient, and well-governed.
Additionally, the HECI will focus on outcome-based regulation and will replace the traditional system of inspections and approvals. Institutions will have greater autonomy, but they will also be held accountable through public disclosures and regular performance audits.
The idea of establishing the HECI was first floated in 2018, when the Ministry of Education released a draft bill proposing the replacement of the UGC with a more modern and streamlined authority. The draft bill was opened for public feedback, and several stakeholders, including educationists, policy experts, and university representatives, provided suggestions. However, the bill did not proceed further at the time.
With the release of the NEP 2020, the proposal regained prominence, and efforts were revived under Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who took charge in July 2021. Since then, the government has worked steadily to turn the NEP’s vision into action, including drafting the HECI Bill that is currently underway.
The decision to replace the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE with the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) is expected to yield several transformative benefits for the higher education landscape in India. One of the key benefits will be streamlined governance. Instead of navigating multiple regulatory bodies for different streams of education, institutions will now engage with a single authority. Another key benefit lies in efficient resource allocation. By integrating funding mechanisms into a centralised authority, HECI will be able to assess institutional needs more effectively and distribute financial resources based on performance, priorities, and growth potential.
The creation of HECI also aims to ensure the same quality standards for all higher education institutions across the country. Since one body will handle accreditation, setting academic rules, and regulation, colleges and universities will follow the same guidelines. This will make it easier to compare academic results across different states and courses, while also helping institutions maintain honesty and high standards in education.
The HECI model is also meant to give more freedom and support to colleges and universities. With fewer rules and less paperwork, institutions will be able to design their own courses, use modern teaching methods, focus on research, and offer programs that help students get jobs. This will allow them to be more flexible and better meet the changing needs of students and the global job market.
While the formation of HECI has been welcomed by many in the academic and policy circles, there are several concerns and challenges that must be carefully addressed for the reform to succeed.
A major point of debate is the risk of over-centralisation. Critics argue that concentrating regulatory power in one body could undermine the diversity and autonomy of India’s vast higher education system. There are concerns that a uniform framework might not account for the unique needs of different regions, disciplines, and institutional models.
Another challenge is the transition period. Moving from a structure governed by multiple independent regulators to a unified commission will require significant coordination. The government must ensure a smooth transfer of roles, responsibilities, and legal authority. This will involve repealing or amending existing legislation, updating institutional frameworks, and ensuring that there is no disruption to ongoing academic activities during the shift.
Moreover, striking the right balance between autonomy and accountability will be critical. While the NEP 2020 encourages granting more freedom to institutions, the HECI will also be responsible for maintaining quality and transparency. Creating effective mechanisms for performance evaluation, audits, and public disclosure without curbing institutional creativity will be essential for the commission’s credibility and success.
The Ministry of Education is currently in the final stages of drafting the HECI Bill. Once the draft is completed, it will be presented to the Union Cabinet for approval. After securing Cabinet clearance, the bill will be tabled in Parliament, where it will undergo discussions and debates before being passed into law.
Upon enactment, the bill will lead to the repeal or amendment of three key pieces of legislation: the University Grants Commission Act of 1956, the All India Council for Technical Education Act of 1987, and the National Council for Teacher Education Act of 1993.
Meanwhile, the government will hold wide discussions with colleges, state governments, teachers, and experts from the education field. The aim is to ensure that the final design of HECI fits the real needs of the education sector and stays true to the vision outlined in NEP 2020.
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