Sukanta Majumdar said the concept of the HECI has been discussed before in the form of a draft bill. (Express Photo)The Ministry of Education is in process of drafting legislation to establish the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) — a proposed unified regulatory body for higher education, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.In a written reply, Majumdar said the initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for a “light but tight” regulatory structure. The framework aims to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accountability while promoting institutional autonomy, innovation, and good governance.As envisioned in the NEP 2020, the HECI will serve as an umbrella body with distinct verticals for regulation, accreditation, funding, and academic standards. The proposed commission is intended to replace existing regulators like the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).Currently, the UGC oversees non-technical education, AICTE handles technical institutions, and NCTE regulates teacher education. The idea of consolidating these functions under a single regulator was first floated in a 2018 draft bill aimed at repealing the UGC Act, which was then opened for public consultation.Efforts to implement the HECI gained renewed momentum under Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who assumed office in July 2021.The NEP 2020 emphasises that the existing regulatory framework needs a complete overhaul to revitalize India’s higher education system and help it meet contemporary challenges and global standards. © IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:AICTEUGC