Centre set to replace UGC with HECI; proposed commission to focus on academic matters

TNT News | New Delhi, June 28, 2018: 

The Centre is set to replace the apex higher education regulator body University Grants Commission (UGC) with Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) by repealing the UGC Act, 1951, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said on 27 June.

He said the draft act is in accordance with the commitment of the government to reform the regulatory mechanism to provide "more autonomy" to higher education institutes to promote excellence and facilitate holistic growth of the education system.

In a series of tweets, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the government has embarked on a process of reforms of the regulatory agencies for better administration of the HE sector. In a landmark decision, a draft Act for repeal of UGC & setting up HECI (Higher Education Commission of India) has been prepared.

Furthermore, he stated that the transformation of the regulatory set up is based upon the principles –
Minimum government & Maximum governance, Separation of grant functions, "End of inspection raj, Focus on academic quality".

He also appealed to all educationists, stakeholders & others to furnish their comments & suggestions by 7th july 2018 till 5 p.m & mail at reformofugc@gmail.com.

It was informed that the proposed Higher Education Commission of India would focus solely on academic matters and monetary grants would be under the purview of the ministry, according to the draft.

Presently, the University Grants Commission (UGC), which came into existence in 1953, provides financial assistance to eligible colleges.

The new Act is likely to be tabled in the Parliament during the monsoon session.

The government was earlier planning a single regulator for technical education, national council teachers training and UGC.

However, it has been decided to strengthen the higher education regulator as 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.

(with Inputs from PTI)

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