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Bill Overview
Purpose: To enable and empower Universities and other higher educational institutions to achieve excellence in teaching, learning, research and innovation, through co-ordination and determination of standards in institutions for higher education.
Date Introduced: December 12, 2025
Minister: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education
Arrangement of Clauses
| Chapter | Title | Clauses |
|---|---|---|
| I | Preliminary | 1-4 |
| II | Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan | 5-9 |
| III | Viksit Bharat Shiksha Viniyaman Parishad (Regulatory Council) | 10-12 |
| IV | Viksit Bharat Shiksha Gunvatta Parishad (Accreditation Council) | 13-14 |
| V | Viksit Bharat Shiksha Manak Parishad (Standards Council) | 15-16 |
| VI | General Provisions | 17-32 |
| VII | Contraventions, Penalties and Adjudication | 33-37 |
| VIII | Finance, Accounts and Audit | 38-42 |
| IX | Miscellaneous | 43-55 |
Chapter I - Preliminary
(1) This Act may be called the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Act, 2025.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
This Act shall apply to:
- All Institutions of national importance established by an Act of Parliament
- Universities in India, established or incorporated by or under a Central Act or a State Act
- Deemed-to-be Universities
- Colleges and higher educational institutions affiliated with Universities
- Institutions regulated under the Architects Act, 1972
- Institutions regulated under the AICTE Act, 1987
- Institutions regulated under the NCTE Act, 1993
- Institutions of open and distance learning, online and digital education
- Institutions of eminence
Accreditation: Process of quality control whereby institutions are recognized as achieving set and graded levels of quality, self-governance and autonomy.
Commission: The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan constituted under section 5.
Council: Any of the three independent verticals - Regulatory Council, Accreditation Council, or Standards Council.
Higher Educational Institution: Institution imparting higher education including University, college, technical institution, Institution of national importance, etc.
Degree: Award granted by a University or higher educational institution certifying successful completion of a programme.
To provide an effective, enabling and responsive system of regulation through:
- Independent functioning of the three Councils
- Responsive and minimalistic regulation ensuring public-spiritedness and good governance
- Focus on system outcomes through transparent leadership
Chapter II - Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (Commission)
A Commission to be known as the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan shall be constituted as a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal.
The Commission shall consist of a Chairperson and other Members, not exceeding twelve:
| Position | Number |
|---|---|
| President of Regulatory Council (ex officio) | 1 |
| President of Accreditation Council (ex officio) | 1 |
| President of Standards Council (ex officio) | 1 |
| Secretary, Ministry of Education (ex officio) | 1 |
| Eminent Academicians from State Institutions | 2 |
| Eminent Experts | 5 |
| Member Secretary | 1 |
The Commission shall:
- Provide high-level strategic direction for comprehensive growth of higher education
- Develop roadmap for transforming institutions into multi-disciplinary centers
- Promote India as an education destination
- Integrate and promote Bharatiya knowledge, languages and arts
- Ensure coordination between the three Councils
- Provide financial support for proper functioning of Councils
- Advise Central and State Governments on higher education matters
Chapter III - Viksit Bharat Shiksha Viniyaman Parishad (Regulatory Council)
The Regulatory Council shall be established as a body corporate to function as the common regulator of higher education in India.
Headed by a President with not more than 14 Members.
Key responsibilities include:
- Require all institutions to attain full accreditation and autonomy in graded manner
- Require full online/offline public self-disclosure of finances, audits, procedures, infrastructure, faculty, courses
- Ensure lawful and transparent conduct of academic, administrative and financial affairs
- Develop policy to prevent commercialization of higher education
- Take swift corrective action (within 60 days) for dishonest disclosure or impropriety
- Ensure robust grievance redressal mechanism for students
- Facilitate autonomy in graded manner
- Specify standards for foreign universities to operate in India
- Authorize accredited institutions to grant degrees
Chapter IV - Viksit Bharat Shiksha Gunvatta Parishad (Accreditation Council)
The Accreditation Council shall be established as a body corporate.
Shall consist of a President and not more than 14 Members.
The Council shall supervise and oversee independent ecosystem of accreditation:
- Develop outcome-based Institutional Accreditation Framework
- Carry out accreditation using technology-driven systems
- Empanel and de-empanel accrediting institutions
- Monitor and review performance of accrediting institutions
- Compile and disseminate accreditation information publicly
- Recommend penalties for contraventions
- Develop perspective plan for accreditation of all institutions
Chapter V - Viksit Bharat Shiksha Manak Parishad (Standards Council)
The Standards Council shall be established as a body corporate.
Shall consist of a President and not more than 14 Members.
Responsible for determination of academic standards:
- Frame expected learning outcomes (graduate attributes) for programs
- Provide guiding principles for integrating vocational education
- Provide nomenclature of certificates, diplomas, and qualification levels
- Provide norms for credit transfers and equivalence
- Develop broad framework of higher education qualifications
- Promote quality of academic instruction and determine minimum standards
- Lay down minimum standards for setting up institutions
- Develop frameworks for curriculum, pedagogy, assessment
- Promote internationalization and Indianization of education
Chapter VI - General Provisions
Only a University, Institution empowered by Parliament, or higher educational institution empowered under this Act can confer degrees.
Shall be a person of eminence and reputation appointed in honorary capacity by the President of India on recommendations of Central Government.
Presidents of Councils shall be persons of eminence with:
- Leadership abilities and capacity for institution building
- Experience of not less than 10 years as Professor or equivalent
- Distinguished higher educational institution or University background
| Position | Term |
|---|---|
| Chairperson of Commission | 3 years (extendable to 5 years) |
| President of Councils | 3 years (extendable to 5 years or till age 70) |
| Members | 3 years (or till age 70) |
| State/UT Nominees | 1 year (rotation basis) |
Chapter VII - Contraventions, Penalties and Adjudication
The Regulatory Council may impose penalties for contraventions:
| Violation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| First contravention (after notice) | Not less than ₹10 lakh |
| Second contravention | Not less than ₹30 lakh + potential removal of responsible persons |
| Persistent contravention | Not less than ₹75 lakh + possible suspension/closure |
| Establishing institution without approval | Not less than ₹2 crore + immediate closure |
The Regulatory Council shall ensure that penalties do not affect student interests or cause monetary repercussions for enrolled students.
Chapter VIII - Finance, Accounts and Audit
The Commission shall have its own Fund comprising:
- Grants from Central Government
- All receipts of the Commission and Councils
- Deposits from State Governments or other authorities
All payments shall be made from this Fund.
Accounts shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and laid before each House of Parliament.
Chapter IX - Miscellaneous Provisions
Central Government may supersede Commission/Councils for up to 6 months (extendable to 12 months) if:
- Unable to discharge functions and duties
- Persistent default in complying with directions
This Act shall have effect irrespective of anything inconsistent in any other law, while protecting autonomy of Institutions of national importance and institutions of eminence.
To be Repealed:
- University Grants Commission Act, 1956
- All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987
- National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993
Note: UGC, AICTE, and NCTE shall continue to function until the new Commission and Councils are established. All existing standards shall remain in force until superseded by new provisions.
Statement of Objects and Reasons
Background
The higher education sector in India has expanded significantly with over 1,000 Universities and 60,000+ higher educational institutions serving 4 crore+ students. The current regulatory framework requires revision to:
- Eliminate multiple approvals and inspections
- Reduce over-regulation and duplication of control
- Provide simplified regulatory systems
National Education Policy 2020 Vision
NEP 2020 envisions a "light but tight" regulatory framework to:
- Ensure integrity, transparency and resource efficiency
- Encourage innovation through autonomy and empowerment
- Focus on good governance and public disclosure
- Re-energize the higher education sector
Key Benefits of the Bill
- Atmanirbharta: Self-reliance in higher education
- Autonomy: Well-performing institutions will gain greater autonomy
- Single Window: Technology-driven interactive system replacing multiple regulators
- Transparency: Public portal for all institutional information
- Global Standards: Establishment of world-class institutions
- Increased GER: Improved Gross Enrollment Ratio
- Student Empowerment: Critical thinking, flexible education, grievance redressal
Key Highlights
Three-Council Structure
| Council | Role | Key Functions |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Council | Regulation | Standards compliance, autonomy facilitation, grievance redressal |
| Accreditation Council | Accreditation | Quality assessment, empaneling institutions, monitoring performance |
| Standards Council | Standard Setting | Learning outcomes, curriculum framework, academic standards |
Council of Architecture Integration
CoA will function as a Professional Standard Setting Body (PSSB) with:
- Representation in all three Councils
- Participation in framing curricula and academic standards
- No regulatory role, only standard-setting function
Implementation Timeline
- Transitional Period: First appointments for 2 years
- Parallel Operation: UGC, AICTE, NCTE continue until new bodies are established
- Asset Transfer: All properties, rights, and liabilities transfer to new bodies
- Employee Transfer: All regular employees transfer with same terms
Submission Details
Minister: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education
Date: December 12, 2025
Place: New Delhi