Scrapping UCG, HRD Ministry makes way for Higher Education Commission to level up higher education

New Delhi, June 28: Education makes a man wise, and it thereby plays a very significant role in our lives. In order to level up the quality of higher education, the Human Resource and Development Department has decided to revoke the UGC Act and set up a new Higher Education Commission of India.

Replacing the existing University Grants Commission with a new Higher Education Commission of India, the government focuses to enforce quality standards in academic matters. According to the proposed draft, the commission will also form regulations about closing and opening of new institutions. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the government has embarked on a process of reform of the regulatory agencies for the better administration of the higher education sector.

The proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) will come into existence by repealing the UGC Act, 1951, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday. "In a landmark decision, a draft Act for the repeal of UGC and setting up of HECI has been prepared," he tweeted.

 

However, the new commission was set up to strengthen the higher education regulator because it was felt that the current commission remains preoccupied with disbursing funds to institutes and is unable to concentrate on other key areas such as mentoring institutes, focusing on research to be undertaken and other quality measures required in the sector.

The commission will also have the power to order the closure of sub-standard and bogus institutions. Currently, UGC releases the names of bogus institutions on its website to inform the public but cannot take any action.

 

Under the draft Act, monetary grants will now be only the HRD Ministry's business. Currently, UGC, which came into existence in 1953, remains occupied with providing financial assistance to eligible institutions.

The Minister said the draft Act is in accordance with the commitment of the government to alter the regulatory mechanism by providing "more autonomy" to higher education institutes and promote excellence and facilitates the holistic growth of the education system. The government was earlier planning a single regulator for technical education, national council teachers training, and UGC.

The Ministry of HRD has also sought to get suggestions and comments from all the stakeholders and public on the draft Act before 5 pm on July 7. The document is available on the Ministry's website (www.mhrd.in). It is likely to be tabled in Parliament during the Monsoon Session starting July 18.