NEW DELHI: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting to finalise its draft report on the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025 has been postponed for the second time. No fresh date has been announced, and members have been informed that the next meeting will be scheduled later. The Bill, introduced in Parliament in December 2025, proposes one of the biggest reforms in India’s higher education system under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It aims to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) with a single, streamlined regulatory framework.
According to reports, the Centre is continuing consultations with stakeholders before the committee finalises its report, reflecting the government’s effort to build wider consensus on the proposed reforms.
What does the VBSA bill propose?
The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025 seeks to create a single umbrella body for regulating higher education across the country. The proposed system will be headed by a 12-member commission, and supported by three specialised councils responsible for:
- Regulation of higher education institutions,
- Academic standards, and
- Accreditation and quality assurance.
The reform is based on a key recommendation of NEP 2020, which suggested replacing multiple regulators with a simpler and more transparent system. According to the government, the new framework will make approvals easier, reduce unnecessary paperwork, improve transparency, and allow colleges and universities to focus more on education, research, and innovation.
After being tabled in Parliament, the Bill drew certain objections from both opposition parties and several members of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). On December 16, 2025, it was referred to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) chaired by BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari. The committee has since consulted state governments, universities, education experts, and industry representatives before preparing its draft report.
The JPC was expected to finalise its report during the current Monsoon Session. However, the meeting was postponed. According to sources, the Centre preferred to avoid another contentious discussion on education while Parliament is witnessing heated debates over issues such as the NEET UG controversy, student protests, and student suicide cases. The government has not officially given a reason for postponing the meeting.
Federalism Emerges as a Key Concern
During the committee’s consultations, some state governments raised concerns over certain provisions of the Bill. The Andhra Pradesh government reportedly said Clause 11(4) could reduce the role of state universities in deciding degree-granting powers of affiliated colleges. The Meghalaya government sought changes to Clause 12 to better protect the role of states, while Madhya Pradesh also reportedly sought greater clarity on some provisions.
Apart from state governments, several leading higher education institutions reportedly urged the committee to strengthen safeguards for institutional autonomy. They recommended:
- Greater representation for states in the proposed regulatory structure
- Clearer checks on executive influence
- A phased implementation of the new framework to ensure a smooth transition from the existing regulatory system
Some institutions cautioned that without adequate safeguards, certain provisions could lead to greater centralisation and create friction between the Centre and the states.
The proposed Bill is one of the biggest higher education reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as it aims to replace the current regulatory system with a single regulator, making approvals simpler, reducing duplication, and improving transparency. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is reviewing these concerns before submitting its report. The Bill will then return to Parliament for further discussion and consideration.
