Govt to Table HECI Bill in Parliament’s Winter Session; Single Regulator to Replace UGC, AICTE, NCTE

HECI will oversee academic standards, accreditation, and regulatory framework across non-medical and non-law disciplines.

Central government is all set to introduce much awaited Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill in the Winter Session of Parliament, beginning next week. The Bill seeks to merge University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) into one overarching body.

HECI will oversee academic standards, accreditation, and regulatory compliance across non-medical and non-law disciplines. Funding will continue to remain with the government.

India has more than 1200 universities operating under multiple regulators. The proposed body will simplify approvals and reduce duplication because of multiple regulatory authorities. It also seeks to bring uniform standards for private and public institutions alike.

“The goal is clarity and consistency,” said a senior official. “But we are aware of concerns regarding autonomy and the transition process.”

Experts point out that merging legacy bodies may create short-term confusion. States, universities, and private institutions will need to align with new compliance requirements.

HECI Bill is expected to generate debates once tabled, especially on how existing approvals and accreditations will be migrated to the new regulator. Parliamentarians and higher-education stakeholders will scrutinize the framework in the coming weeks.