Higher Education Commission of India (HECI)

Higher Education Commission of India (HECI)

Subject :Polity

• It will subsume the University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), is likely to have extensive penal powers, with the government considering to authorise it to impose fine of up to Rs 5 crore and also proceed against the heads of institutions found to have committed violations.
• the UGC, which is the apex regulatory body on higher education (non-technical), can impose a maximum fine of Rs 1,000 for violations, including setting up of fake universities, under an Act which was drawn up in 1956
• HECI Bill is being drafted by the Ministry of Education for tabling during the Winter Session of Parliament.
• HECI will have the proposed 15-member body apart from the chairperson and the vice-chairperson, it is likely to include a vice-chancellor of a central university, higher education secretary, finance secretary, a legal expert, and a reputed individual from the industry.
• It is also likely to stipulate the presence of at least one state university vice-chancellor and two professors from the state higher education councils.
• The 2018 draft Bill had no provision for representation from the states in the commission, which was criticised by many.
• the new Bill has a clause, like its old version, which gives the Centre powers to remove the chairperson, vice-chairperson or any other member of the commission even on grounds of “moral turpitude”, However the new bill also added that the removals can be effected only after an inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court Judge.
• The provisions in the Bill are being aligned with the National Education Policy, 2020, which had recommended that medical and legal education be kept out of the proposed HECI’s ambit under which general, technical, teacher, vocational and other professional education will come.
• The commission will have four independent verticals — National Higher Education Regulatory Council, National Accreditation Council, Higher Education Grants Council and General Education Council, which will be headed by one president each.

• the HECI will be entrusted with developing an integrated roadmap for the future of higher education in India and transforming existing higher education institutions into large multidisciplinary units and research universities.

The National Higher Education Regulatory Council :

• shall handle action against institutions that do not meet accreditation standards and violate other norms, monitor financial, administrative impropriety, and tackle grievances of stakeholders.

The National Accreditation Council :

• will develop the process of accreditation.

The Higher Education Grants Council

• will develop a transparent criteria for funding the higher educational institutions, take charge of grants, scholarships etc.