In a major move, the central government has decided to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) with a single regulatory body named Vikasit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan. The decision, approved by the Union Cabinet, aims to streamline regulation, reduce duplication, and ensure continuous oversight of higher and professional education institutions across the country.
The three existing bodies, established in 1956 (UGC), 1945 (AICTE), and 1995 (NCTE), were often criticized for failing to meet their objectives and for operating without proper coordination. By merging them, the government intends to unify regulatory functions, accreditation, and standard-setting under one authority. Institutions related to medical and legal education have been exempted from this merger.
The new authority will not handle funding allocation, which will remain under the central government. Its primary responsibilities will include regulation, accreditation, and defining educational standards, while also promoting professional skill development.
This is not the first attempt to unify higher education regulators. In 2018, a similar proposal to repeal the UGC Act and create a central commission faced strong opposition and was shelved. The initiative was revived in 2021 under Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and has now been refined into the Vikasit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill.
Once passed by Parliament, the bill will become law, officially consolidating the three regulators. The government expects this move to improve coordination among institutions, maintain consistent standards, and strengthen the overall higher education ecosystem in India.