The purpose of the Bill is to empower Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) of India to achieve excellence through effective coordination and advancing NEP 2020 vision.
Key Provisions of the Bill:
- It provides for repealing University Grants Commission(UGC) Act, 1956, All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE) Act, 1987 and National Council for Teacher Education(NCTE) Act, 1993.
- Constitution of Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA): New umbrella commission to regulate higher education in India, replacing existing bodies like the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE.
- President and Members of the Commission (not more than 12), other than the ex officio Members and Member Secretary of the Commission, shall be appointed by President of India.
- Coverage: All higher educational institutions under the purview of the Ministry of Education, UGC, AICTE, NCTE etc. will be under the purview of VBSA for determination of standards.
- Formation of three Councils under VBSA: Viksit Bharat Shiksha Viniyaman Parishad (Regulatory Council), Viksit Bharat Shiksha Gunvatta Parishad (Accreditation Council) and Viksit Bharat Shiksha Manak Parishad (Standards Council).
- Council of Architecture (CoA): Established under the Architects Act, 1972 shall function as a Professional Standard Setting Body (PSSB) as envisioned in the NEP, 2020.
- Funding: It is proposed to keep the funding to the centrally funded higher educational institutes out of the purview of the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan.
- Significant enhancement of enforcement powers: Regulatory Council can impose penalties for violations ranging from not less than ₹10 lakh to up to ₹2 crore.
