Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 – Key Points

Why in News

• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha on 15 December 2025.

Objective

• To reform and rationalise higher education regulation in India by ensuring:
  • Effective coordination
  • Determination of academic standards
  • Enhanced quality, autonomy and accountability of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs)

Constitutional Basis

• Introduced under Entry 66 of the Union List (Seventh Schedule):
  • “Coordination and determination of standards in institutions for higher education or research and scientific and technical institutions.”

Link with NEP 2020

• Implements Chapter 18 of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which calls for:
  • A fundamental overhaul of the higher education regulatory framework
  • Reduction of regulatory overlap
  • Separation of regulation, accreditation, and standard-setting

Key Institutional Framework

Apex Body

Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA)

• Chairperson:
  • Person of eminence
  • Appointed by the President of India on recommendation of the Central Government
• Members (≤12) include:
  • Presidents of the three councils
  • Higher Education Secretary (MoE)
  • 2 professors from State HEIs
  • 5 experts in higher education

Three Councils under VBSA

1. Viksit Bharat Shiksha Manak Parishad (Standards Council)
   • Specifies minimum academic standards
   • Ensures synchronization of standards across HEIs
2. Viksit Bharat Shiksha Viniyaman Parishad (Regulatory Council)
   • Ensures coordination and compliance with prescribed standards
3. Viksit Bharat Shiksha Gunvatta Parishad (Accreditation Council)
   • Independent accrediting authority
   • Oversees a robust, transparent accreditation ecosystem

Presidents of Councils

• Persons of eminence with minimum 10 years’ experience as Professor
• Appointed by the President of India
• Selected by a Search-cum-Selection Committee:
  • 2 experts nominated by the Centre
  • Higher Education Secretary (MoE)

Major Legislative Changes

• Repeal of existing Acts:
  • University Grants Commission Act, 1956
  • All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987
  • National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993

All HEIs under UGC, AICTE and NCTE to come under VBSA for standards determination.

Special Provisions

• Council of Architecture (CoA):
  • To function as a Professional Standard Setting Body (PSSB) as per NEP 2020
• Institutions of National Importance:
  • Existing autonomy protected
• Funding:
  • Centrally funded HEIs kept outside the purview of VBSA

Significance

• Ends fragmented regulation in higher education
• Clear separation of:
  • Standard-setting
  • Regulation
  • Accreditation
• Enhances ease of governance, quality assurance, and global competitiveness
• Aligns Indian higher education governance with global best practices