A proposed bill was to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC) with a Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), faced opposition even before the Bill was tabled in Parliament, on July 23rd. The issue was raised in Lok Sabha during a Question Hour by Trinamool Congress. TMC member Prof. Sugata Bose inquired to know how the proposed body of HECI would be better than the already existing one.
The new commission wanted to establish through this Act to not have a grant-making authority, it would have promoted and reduced the inspection system and would have had more focus on the quality outcome at universities and colleges.
The new commission would have also consisted of a chairperson, vice chairperson and 12 members to be appointed by the central government. The secretary of the commission would have acted as the member-secretary. Of the 12 members, three members would represent union government namely: secretary of higher education, secretary of the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship and secretary, department of science and technology.
Currently, its the University Grants Commission of India (UGC) which looks into the universities across India. It is a statutory body set up by the Indian Union Government in accordance to the UGC Act 1956, under Ministry of Human Resource Development and is charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education. It provides recognition to universities in India and disburses funds to such recognised universities and colleges.
“The draft Act is in accordance with the commitment of the government for reforming the regulatory systems that provide more autonomy to higher educational institutes to promote excellence and facilitate holistic growth of the education system,” Javadekar had previously tweeted.
Dr Thambi Durai also noted the HECI was first conceptualised by Kapil Sibal, the HRD Minister during UPA’s term. Accusing both UPA and NDA governments of “infringing State’s rights,” he dubbed the proposal as “new wine in old bottle.”