Ministry:
Education
The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 15, 2025. The Bill seeks to establish a regulatory body for higher education. This body will replace the following existing bodies: (i) University Grants Commission (UGC), (ii) All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and (iii) National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The Bill repeals the three Acts providing for constituting these bodies. The Bill exempts legal and medical education from its purview. These will continue to be regulated under separate Acts.
- Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan: The Bill establishes the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (the Commission) as the apex regulatory body for higher education. The Commission will have following three Councils: (i) Regulatory Council which will function as the common regulator for higher education, (ii) Accreditation Council to oversee the system of accreditation, and (iii) Standards Council to determine academic standards. The functions of the Commission include: (i) providing strategic direction for higher education and research, (ii) developing a roadmap for transforming higher educational institutions (HEIs) into large multi-disciplinary education and research institutions, and (iii) suggesting schemes for improving quality of education. The Commission may give directions to the Councils to ensure coordination. It will also provide financial support for proper functioning of the Councils.
- Currently, UGC also allocates grants to universities and colleges. Under the Bill, the Commission or its Councils will not have any powers regarding funding to HEIs.
- Composition of Councils: Each Council will be headed by a President and will have up to 14 members. The Presidents of the Councils will be persons of eminence and standing in the field of higher education or research, and must have at least 10 years of experience equivalent to a professor. Members of the Councils will include eminent experts, one nominee of the Union Department of Higher Education, and nominees by the other two Councils. The Regulatory Council and Standards Council will also have one nominee of state governments on rotation basis.
- The Presidents and the full-time members of the Council will be appointed by the President of India, upon recommendations of a search and selection committee. The committee will consist of two eminent experts and the Higher Education Secretary of the central government. One of the eminent experts will head the committee.
- Composition of the Commission: The Commission will have a Chairperson and 12 members. The Chairperson will be a person of eminence and reputation to be appointed in honorary capacity. Members of the Commission include: (i) Presidents of the three Councils, (ii) the Higher Education Secretary of the central government, (iii) five eminent experts, and (iv) two eminent academicians from state HEIs. The Chairperson and the members will be appointed by the President of India, upon recommendations of the central government.
- Terms and conditions of service: The Chairperson of the Commission and the Presidents of the Councils will be appointed for an initial period of three years, extendable up to five years. Other members of the Commission and the Council will be appointed for three years. All of them will also be eligible for re-appointment for another term. Further, age limit of 70 years will apply except in case of the Chairperson of the Commission. The nominees of state governments to the Regulatory and Standard Councils will be appointed for a period of one year. The central government will prescribe salary and allowances and other terms and conditions of service.
- Penalties on HEIs: The Regulatory Council may impose penalties on HEIs for contravention of the Act. The penalty will range between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 70 lakh. Regulatory Council may also recommend the central or state governments to: (i) remove a liable person from employment, (ii) review and revise level of autonomy of HEI, (iii) withhold grants, (iv) modify the right to confer degrees, (v) revoke affiliation, or (vi) order closure of an HEI. Establishing a university without prior approval will be punishable with a penalty of at least two crore rupees. The Regulatory Council will set up an adjudicatory mechanism in the manner prescribed by the central government.
- Appeals: Appeals against the decisions of the Commission and the Councils will be lie before the central government.
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