Govt Plans to Replace UGC, AICTE & NCTE with Single Higher Education Commission

The central government is working on a major overhaul of India’s higher education regulation system. A draft bill has been prepared to dissolve the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and replace them with a single regulatory body called the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). This step is in line with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to create a more unified and streamlined education framework.

I’m writing about this topic because this change, if implemented, will affect every student, teacher, college, and university in the country. Whether you’re pursuing engineering, arts, science, or teacher training, the new system is meant to simplify regulations and reduce red tape. But it also raises many questions—how will HECI work? What will happen to the existing rules and norms under UGC or AICTE? Understanding this shift is important for students, parents, teachers, and administrators alike. In a country as diverse as India, replacing long-standing education bodies with one central authority is no small move. It’s crucial we know how it’ll change the way higher education functions and who will benefit or lose out in this new system.

What Is the Govt Planning with This New Bill?

The government’s proposal is to create a single authority called the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). This commission will take over the roles currently performed by three separate regulators:

UGC, which manages general university education
AICTE, which regulates technical education like engineering and management
NCTE, which oversees teacher training and education courses

The idea is to replace these overlapping bodies with one powerful regulator that can maintain standards, provide funding, and enforce rules across all non-medical and non-legal higher education institutions in the country.

Why Replace UGC, AICTE, and NCTE?

Let’s be honest, most colleges and universities in India have to follow multiple sets of guidelines. If you’re running an engineering college that also offers teacher training and general courses, you might be answering to all three regulators. This leads to confusion, paperwork, delays, and even conflicting instructions.

By forming a unified body, the government wants to:

Reduce duplication of work and conflicting norms
Improve coordination between streams like arts, science, tech, and education
Make regulation more efficient and transparent
Support multi-disciplinary institutions, as suggested by NEP 2020

What Will HECI Actually Do?

According to available information, HECI will have the power to:

Set academic standards
Approve and review courses and institutions
Enforce rules and take action against violations
Decide on funding for higher education institutions
Monitor the performance of universities and colleges

It will be structured in such a way that it includes four verticals:

Regulation
Accreditation
Grants
Academic Functions

Each of these will be handled by specialised units under HECI, so that there is no overlap and every task has a dedicated department.

Will Medical and Law Education Be Included?

No. As of now, medical and legal education will continue to be regulated separately by their own professional bodies like the National Medical Commission (NMC) and Bar Council of India (BCI). HECI will only focus on higher education other than these.

What About Autonomy of Colleges?

One of the key aims of this reform is to promote autonomy for institutions. The NEP envisions that colleges and universities should eventually become independent and self-regulated through transparent internal systems and public accountability. HECI is expected to enable that by focusing more on outcomes and less on micro-managing.

What Happens Next?

The draft bill has been prepared, and the Ministry of Education is expected to hold consultations before presenting it in Parliament. Once passed, this will be a major change in how Indian higher education is managed.

This reform could improve quality, efficiency, and access—but only if implemented well. It will require proper training of staff, a smooth transition from existing rules, and most importantly, regular checks to ensure that HECI doesn’t become just another bureaucracy.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.