Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Gets Cabinet Nod; New Regulator to Replace UGC, AICTE, NCTE

Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan will oversee everything from approvals to academic standards for higher education institutions, except for medical and legal education, which will continue under NMC and BCI.

The Union Cabinet has cleared Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill, paving way for a single regulator for higher education. Once enacted, new body will take over roles of UGC, AICTE and NCTE, a shift the government has been working towards since HECI framework was first proposed in National Education Policy 2020.

The revamped regulator is meant to cut through overlapping rules that universities have struggled with for years. “The aim is simple - one point of regulation instead of three,” an official said after the meeting.

What the New Regulator Will Do

Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan will oversee everything from approvals to academic standards for higher education institutions, except for medical and legal education, which will continue under their respective councils. The idea is not new; NEP 2020 had already outlined a four-pillar structure under the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). The new bill keeps the broad architecture intact:

NHERC will act as the main regulator.

NAC will handle quality assessment and accreditation.

GEC will set academic benchmarks and expected learning outcomes.

HEGC will deal with funding norms, although financial decisions are expected to stay with the ministry.

People tracking the sector say these verticals were designed to avoid the very problem the current system suffers from one body setting rules, giving approvals and controlling grants. “Separating roles is a good step, provided it doesn’t create fresh layers of paperwork,” a senior academic from a central university noted.

For years, universities have complained that having three regulators often meant conflicting instructions and long delays. The proposed single body is expected to simplify processes such as starting new programmes, expanding seats, or launching research centres. NEP 2020 had also argued that India needed a modern regulatory system if it wanted universities to grow without excessive red tape.

What Happens Now

The government plans to table the bill in Parliament during the ongoing Winter Session. Once passed, rules will be framed over the next few months, and the transition from UGC, AICTE and NCTE to the new authority will take place in phases. Officials indicated that institutions will be given adequate time to adjust to the new system.