Higher Education Commission of India: A Reform or a Concern?

Dr Mohammed Abdul Raffey

The Indian higher education system is on the brink of a significant transformation with the proposed establishment of the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). This initiative, part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) with a single regulatory authority. While the move is intended to streamline governance and improve academic standards, concerns about centralisation, the autonomy of institutions, and the impact on rural education remain pressing.

Why replace the UGC?

India's higher education system has long suffered from fragmentation, multiple regulatory bodies, and bureaucratic inefficiencies. The UGC Act of 1956 empowered the commission to regulate funding, academic quality, and accreditation. However, over the decades, the UGC has been criticised for micromanaging institutions, politicisation, and inefficient fund allocation. Several committees, including the Yash Pal Committee (2009) and the Hari Gautam Committee (2015), have pointed out its shortcomings, recommending a complete overhaul of the regulatory framework.

The new HECI is envisioned to address these issues by creating a unified structure with four key verticals:

1. Regulation – Establishing guidelines for educational institutions.

2. Accreditation – Ensuring quality assurance mechanisms.

3. Funding – Allocating financial resources effectively.

4. Academic standards – Setting national-level learning benchmarks.

Concerns over centralisation

While the idea of a streamlined higher education regulator is welcomed, concerns about excessive centralisation loom large. The composition of the proposed HECI suggests a heavy influence of the central government, with nine out of twelve members being direct or indirect representatives of the Centre. This raises fears that HECI may erode the autonomy of state universities and increase political control over academia.

Additionally, the Advisory Council of HECI, which includes representatives from state education councils, has only an advisory role. This means that state governments may have little say in crucial decision-making despite education being a subject under the Concurrent List of the Constitution.

Impact on rural institutions

One of the most debated aspects of the HECI proposal is its potential impact on rural institutions. Many colleges and universities in rural India face challenges such as faculty shortages, poor infrastructure, and lack of funding. The HECI will have the authority to shut down underperforming institutions, which could disproportionately affect rural colleges. Critics argue that instead of closing these institutions, the focus should be on capacity-building, faculty training, and resource allocation.

If rural public institutions decline, students may be forced to turn to private institutions, which could lead to a rise in educational inequality. The growing privatisation of education has already led to concerns about accessibility and affordability, especially for economically weaker sections.

Need for a decentralised approach

The Parliamentary Panel on HECI, led by Rajya Sabha MP Digvijay Singh, has suggested a more decentralised regulatory approach. Key recommendations include:

• Greater state representation in the decision-making process.

• Independent selection committee for HECI members, free from political influence.

•A clear funding mechanism to support higher education institutions.

• Protection of academic autonomy for universities and faculty.

Additionally, experts argue that instead of replacing just the UGC, all regulatory bodies, including the AICTE, National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), should be integrated into a single apex body to avoid regulatory conflicts.

Way forward

The establishment of HECI marks a pivotal moment in Indian higher education. If implemented with adequate checks and balances, it could help improve academic quality, research output, and institutional governance. However, for the reform to be successful, the government must address the concerns of centralisation, rural education, and institutional autonomy.

A balanced approach, ensuring state-level participation, adequate funding for public institutions, and freedom for universities to innovate, will be crucial. The future of India's higher education system depends on creating a regulatory framework that supports both excellence and inclusivity, ensuring that no student is left behind in the pursuit of knowledge.

(The writer is Associate Professor, UGC-Malaviya Mission-Teacher Training Center Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)