The Ministry of Education is approved a bill to establish the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) as a single regulatory body, replacing UGC, AICTE, NCTE, NAAC, and NBA.
New Delhi, December 14, 2025 – The Union Cabinet has approved the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill, marking a significant milestone in India’s higher education sector. This landmark legislation proposes a unified regulator, replacing the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
The bill, earlier known as the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, aims to streamline governance and oversight in India’s higher education sector, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommendations.
HIGHLIGHTS:
– Unified Regulator: Merges UGC, AICTE, and NCTE into a single body, responsible for academic regulation, accreditation, and setting professional standards.
– Exclusions: Medical and legal colleges will remain outside the regulator’s purview.
– Funding: Financial autonomy will remain with the administrative ministry.
– Structure: The new authority will have four verticals: National Higher Education Regulatory Council, National Accreditation Council, General Education Council, and Higher Education Grants Council.
This move is expected to transform India’s higher education system, promoting quality, accountability, and innovation. The bill will be introduced in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.
