The Union Cabinet recently approved a major proposal to transform the education sector. They cleared the plan to set up a single higher education regulator. This new body will replace multiple existing agencies. The government is likely to present the bill in the current Parliament session.
- Bodies to be Merged: 3 (UGC, AICTE, and NCTE)
- Target Bill: Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill
- Parliament Session Ends: December 19
- Nuclear Energy Target (SHANTI Bill): 100 GW by 2047
Unified Regulator for Higher Education
The proposed legislation now bears the title Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill. It previously carried the name Higher Education Commission of India Bill. This move aligns directly with the National Education Policy. The policy suggests a unified body to manage higher education efficiently.
Consequently, the new regulator will subsume the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). However, the government decided to keep medical and law colleges outside the scope of this new body.
Functions of the New Body
The single higher education regulator will focus on specific roles. Officials state that funding will not fall under this body. The administrative ministry will retain financial autonomy.
| Core Functions of the Regulator |
| Regulation of higher education institutions |
| Accreditation of colleges and universities |
| Setting professional standards |
Update on Nuclear Energy Sector
In the same meeting, the Cabinet also approved the SHANTI Bill (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India). This bill opens the civil nuclear power sector to private participation. It aims to help India achieve an atomic energy capacity of 100 gigawatts by 2047.
