Centre Assures States Won't Lose Power as Education Regulator Bill Takes Shape
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Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has sought to alleviate concerns over the proposed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, which aims to establish a single regulator for higher education in India. Pradhan clarified that the bill does not undermine the powers of state universities and that the functioning of state institutions will remain unchanged. The bill, which seeks to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The opposition has raised concerns over the centralization of higher education, with some arguing that the bill weakens the powers of state governments. Pradhan stated that the bill aims to create a uniform pattern of regulation, standard-setting, and accreditation, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He emphasized that the proposed regulator, Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan, will have three autonomous councils to handle regulatory, accreditation, and standards-setting functions. The minister also clarified that funding support from both the Centre and states will continue, with clear separation of regulatory and funding roles to avoid conflicts of interest. He assured that the bill does not threaten institutional autonomy and that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) will address any concerns or misconceptions. The JPC, comprising 21 Lok Sabha members and 10 Rajya Sabha members, has been tasked with submitting its report by the last day of the first part of the Budget Session in 2026. Pradhan defended the bill, saying it seeks to establish a more flexible and autonomous higher education system, backed by an appropriate legal framework. The bill proposes to impose a fine of ₹2 crore on institutions that set up universities without proper government approval. Pradhan reiterated that the Centre and states will continue to support higher education and research, with a structured central forum created to ensure cooperative federalism.
