NEW DELHI: The contribution of quality education to building a developed Bharat is as significant as that of the economy, health, and social prosperity. This bill aims to transform the higher education landscape in Bharat by replacing existing regulatory bodies (UGC, AICTE, NCTE) with a single, integrated apex body.
This bill aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to enhance the quality, accessibility, and global competitiveness of education. The bill proposes to replace existing regulators such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) with a single umbrella – the ‘Viksit Bharat Shiksha Foundation’.
This bill emphasises streamlining regulation through a technology-driven, contactless, single-window system. Higher education institutions (HEIs) will be required to mandatorily disclose all information related to financial integrity, infrastructure, faculty, and academic outcomes on a public digital portal.
The Foundation will have three main councils: the Regulatory Council, the Standards Council, and the Accreditation Council.
The Standards Council will set and upgrade academic standards, while the Accreditation Council will oversee an independent accreditation system. A key aspect of the bill is establishing a framework for the innovative development of curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment to promote Bharatiya knowledge, arts, and languages. The bill provides for stringent penalties for non-compliance, including fines (ranging from Rs 10 lakh to ₹75 lakh) and, for repeated violations, closure or suspension of the right to grant degrees/diplomas.
It ensures easier access to quality institutions for students and promotes flexible learning frameworks, such as multiple entry-exit options and the Academic Bank of Credits. This bill promises to reduce bureaucratic delays and eliminate fragmentation in the higher education sector. The ‘Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan Bill, 2025’ is a far-reaching reform that attempts to align Bharatiya higher education with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020, thereby helping to achieve the goal of a ‘Developed Bharat’ by 2047.
