Union Education Minister Clarifies Concerns Over Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025

In response to criticism that the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, centralises power by giving final authority to the government, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated on Monday that sovereign authority under all laws has always been with the government. “There is no threat to institutional autonomy and even if the opposition has some concerns or misconceptions, they can be addressed by the JPC. The powers with the states will remain as they are at present," Pradhan said at a press conference, reported PTI. His comments addressed concerns over Section 15(3)(g) of the bill, which mandates that the proposed higher education commission “shall be bound" by policy directions from the Central government and that in case of any disagreement, “the Government’s decision shall be final". Speaking at a press conference a day after introducing the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Pradhan clarified that this provision does not alter the existing legal framework. “This has been the case earlier as well. Sovereign authority is vested in the government in every law, including with the UGC. We have referred the bill to the joint parliamentary committee," he said. The Lok Sabha passed a resolution to refer the Bill to a joint parliamentary committee. According to Tuesday’s resolution, the joint committee will include 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. The committee is expected to submit its report by the last day of the first part of the Budget Session in 2026, reported ANI. The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, formerly known as the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, aims to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). For the first time, the new Act will bring Institutes of National Importance (INIs) under a regulatory framework, as they have primarily operated outside such oversight until now. Swipe Left For Next Video Pradhan assured that Institutions of National Importance (INIs), including IITs and IIMs, will maintain their autonomy under the new framework. “The core autonomy of these institutions will remain," he said, while noting that they will need to provide certain institutional data within the regulatory system. This measure, he explained, aims to “set higher benchmarks for quality and standards" in higher education.