New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is set to introduce the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 in the Winter Session of Parliament, proposing a sweeping restructuring of higher education governance through the creation of a new central commission aimed at promoting autonomy, accreditation and academic excellence.
According to sources who have reviewed the draft legislation, the proposed Commission will function as a unified apex body to enable universities and higher educational institutions to become independent, self-governing entities, while ensuring quality through a transparent and robust accreditation framework. The Commission will comprise three verticals — the Regulatory Council, the Accreditation Council and the Standards Council.
The 12-member Commission will include the presidents of the three councils, the Union higher education secretary, two eminent academicians from state higher educational institutions not below the rank of professor, five distinguished experts, and a member secretary. All appointments will be made by the Centre through a three-member search committee.
The Bill provides legal protection to Commission officials, stating that no prosecution or legal proceedings shall lie against any office bearer or employee for actions taken in good faith under the Act. It also proposes strict penalties for violations, including fines ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹30 lakh for non-compliance, escalating to at least ₹75 lakh or even suspension for repeat offences.
The proposed Commission will be tasked with providing strategic direction for the holistic growth of higher education and research in a globally competitive environment. It will develop roadmaps to transform institutions into multidisciplinary education and research centres and position India as a global education destination. The Bill also emphasises the integration of Bharatiya knowledge systems, languages and arts across higher education curricula.
The Commission will advise both the Centre and states on schemes to improve educational quality and support the overall development of higher education. Its jurisdiction will extend to Institutions of National Importance, central universities, state universities, colleges, AICTE-regulated institutions, architecture institutions, and open and distance learning institutions.
The Regulatory Council, a 14-member body, will focus on ensuring universal accreditation and graded autonomy for institutions. It will work towards preventing commercialisation of higher education and mandate public disclosure of financial records, infrastructure, faculty details, academic outcomes and accreditation status through a central portal. The council will also frame norms for foreign universities operating in India and enable Indian universities to establish campuses abroad.
Another 14-member body, the Accreditation Council, will develop an outcome-based Institutional Accreditation Framework covering conventional, digital and distance learning modes. It will empanel accrediting agencies, monitor their performance and ensure integrity in the accreditation process, with a focus on educational outcomes, governance standards and financial transparency.
The Standards Council, to be known as the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Manak Parishad, will determine academic standards, define learning outcomes and graduate attributes, regulate credit transfer mechanisms and frame norms for qualifications below the PhD level. It will also establish minimum standards for setting up and operating institutions, promote curriculum innovation and balance internationalisation with the Indianisation of education.
The chairperson of the Commission and presidents of the councils will initially serve three-year terms, extendable up to five years, and will be eligible for reappointment. They may be removed by the President of India. The Commission will operate through a dedicated Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Fund, supported by grants from the Central Government.
