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As the government pushes the HECI Bill 2025, AyraNews24x7 spoke to top academics to understand its potential impact on the future of universities and higher education regulation.
The HECI Bill 2025 proposes to replace the UGC, AICTE and NCTE as a single higher-education regulator.
As the government moves towards revamping India’s higher-education regulatory system, the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill 2025 has emerged as one of the most-watched proposals in the winter session of Parliament. The law seeks to replace the UGC, AICTE and NCTE with a single overarching regulator, the most ambitious reform push since the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommended a unified framework for the first time.
AyraNews24x7 spoke to top academics to understand how they view the proposed change and what it could mean for universities across the country. But before looking at his ideas, it is important to understand how the current system works and what HECI could look like.
A major change in the current system
The proposed legislation follows the NEP 2020’s call for a “complete overhaul” of India’s higher-education regulatory architecture. The Bill aims to merge the three major bodies into a single authority:
UGC – regulates non-technical universities
AICTE – oversees technical and professional institutes
NCTE – Sets standards for teacher education
Under the new structure, HECI will regulate institutions, recognize universities, set academic standards and formulate funding norms. Medical and legal education are expected to remain outside its scope. The work of distribution of funds will be continued by the Education Ministry.
What might HECI look like?
Officials familiar with the draft said the body is likely to follow the recommended structure and functioning of NEP 2020 through four verticals:
National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) – Chief regulator
National Accreditation Council (NAC) – Accreditation and Quality Standards
General Education Council (GEC) – Academic Framework and Learning Outcomes
Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) – Funding Criteria
This model clearly separates regulation, accreditation, academic standards and funding oversight.
What do stakeholders think?
Top academics have offered a mix of support, caution and calls for greater transparency on the HECI Bill. While many agree that a single regulator can streamline oversight and reduce duplication, they also emphasize that the impact of reform will largely depend on how the transition is implemented.
Former UGC Chairman Professor M. Jagadish Kumar said the HECI Bill represents a structural reform as envisaged in the NEP 2020, rather than a simple integration of existing regulators.
“UGC, AICTE and NCTE are different regulatory bodies with different data systems and decision-making styles… HECI will address practical challenges with approvals and pending files, giving institutions clarity on authorizations and processes during the transition. It will adopt strong communication, phased timelines and transparent legacy rules,” he said.
They believe the new framework will help eliminate duplication and accelerate decision-making through risk-based, technology-driven regulation. In his view, HECI’s emphasis on learning outcomes and broad academic guidelines could also expand institutional autonomy and support universities in developing programs rooted in Indian languages and Indian knowledge systems.
At BITS Pilani, Group Vice Chancellor Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao described the proposed change as a move away from a control-driven system to one that empowers institutions.
“India has built one of the largest higher education systems in the world, yet the real test of any system is not its size but its ability to foster quality, equity and innovation. The move towards a Higher Education Commission of India signals a significant shift in thinking. We are moving from a framework that was dependent on control to one that aspires to enablement. Separating regulation from funding, emphasizing outcomes rather than inputs and bringing all streams under a common approach are steps in the right direction, “he said.
He cautioned that the reforms should not lead to excessive surveillance. “But reforms should never be overly monitored. Institutions need trust, autonomy and space to innovate. If implemented with transparency and care, HECI can help create a future where our universities will be evaluated on what they deliver for students and the country. This is the change India needs now.”
BHU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi agreed that HECI has significant long-term potential, but cautioned that institutions may face challenges in the early stages.
He said, “Initially, a lot of effort will be required to ensure that HECI serves the purpose for which it is created. Once it is established, it has the potential to streamline rules and promote interdisciplinary activities by blurring the often unnecessary boundaries between disciplines.”
Also read: HECI ‘light but strict’ regulation will bring more academic space: Former UGC chief | Interview
However, former DUTA president AK Bhagi took strong objection to the lack of transparency, especially the fact that the draft bill has not been made public.
“The draft copy of the Bill is not available; it should be shared with the stakeholders for their informed opinion and suggestions. From media reports, it is expected that financial matters, i.e. government grants and funds, are not within the purview of HECI and this regulatory body is going to deal with quality and standards in higher education. The service conditions, promotions and eligibility criteria of teachers in HEIs will be under HECI.”
He further stressed the need for uninterrupted grants and adequate teaching posts for the institutions.
“The government should announce a transparent methodology for allocating grants to meet infrastructure requirements and expansion of HEIs and sanctioned posts etc,” he said.
Bhagi concluded with a call for greater involvement of academics: “There will be greater involvement of academics and greater democratization of the regulators proposed to replace the UGC, AICTE, etc.”
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