According to the draft released on June 27, 2018 by the human resource development ministry, the University Grants Commission will be replaced with a new regulator for higher education in India to improve academic standards and put a check on bogus institutions. The new higher education commission will focus on academic matters only and will be instituted under the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Act, 2018 (repeal of UGC Act) once it is passed.
The new law will give the HECI powers to enforce academic standards, order the closure of bogus institutions imparting sub-standard education, and training. It will even have the power to levy fines. HECI will also have powers to revoke authorisation of institutes to grant degrees in case academic standards are compromised, and if an institution disobeys HECI’s order on a penalty or closure, there could be criminal prosecution in such cases.
As per the draft law, all universities including state-owned ones will have to get authorisation from HECI for granting degrees, and also fulfil conditions regarding academic curricula and infrastructure for this. The draft also makes it compulsory for all institutions to get accreditation, and those failing to do this by 2022 could face closure.
HECI will have more autonomy to facilitate holistic growth of the education system and provide greater opportunities to students at reasonable cost. It is guided by the principles of less government and more governance, separation of grants functions, end of inspection raj, focus on academic quality, and powers to enforce. According to the draft, the task of the HECI relates with specifying learning outcomes for higher education courses, and prescribe standards of research, assessment and teaching.