Lok Sabha Question No. 869 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Higher Education Empowerment Regulation Agency
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ANJU BALA, N.K. PREMACHANDRAN, C. MAHENDRAN, J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.869 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## Higher Education Empowerment Regulation Agency

## 869. SHRIMATI ANJU BALA:

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:

SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a)  whether the Government is planning to scrap the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether the Government is planning to introduce the Higher Education Empowerment Regulation Agency (HEERA) aimed at eliminating overlaps in jurisdiction and remove irrelevant regulatory provisions and if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether the Government proposes to withdraw the grants given to Institutions in Higher  Education  Sector  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  alternate arrangement proposed for the grants;

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  constituted  a  committee  that  has  comprising  NITI Aayog CEO, higher education secretary and others to work on the detailed blueprint of HEERA and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government seeks opinion from State Governments, Universities and other stakeholders regarding the change from UGC, AICTE to HEERA; and

(f)  Other  major  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  in  the  Higher  Education  Sector during the last two years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a)& (b): The Ministry has prepareda draft Higher Education Commission of India Bill, 2018  to  repeal  of  the  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  Act,  1956  and  for establishment of the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) for promoting the quality of academic instruction, maintenance of academic standards and autonomy of higher  educational  institutions  for  free  pursuit  of  knowledge,  innovation,  incubation, skills and entrepreneurship, and for facilitating access, inclusion and opportunities to all,  and  providing  for  comprehensive  and  holistic  growth  of  higher  education  and research in a competitive global environment.

There is no proposal under consideration of the Government to scrap the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

(c):  The grant disbursal function to Universities and Colleges is now proposed to be located in an entity which works in a transparent, merit-based approach through an ICT enabled platform.

(d)  &  (e):  NITI  Aayog  has  recommended  for  restructuring  of  the  University  Grants Commission. Accordingly, the Ministry has prepareda draft Higher Education Commission of India Bill, 2018 to repeal of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956 and for establishment of the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).

The  draft  Higher  Education  Commission  of  India  Bill,  2018  has  been  put  in public domain on 27.06.2018 for seeking comments and suggestions from educationists, stakeholders and general public before 20.07.2018. As on 19.07.2018, the Ministry has received 9,926 suggestions/comments covering Members  of Parliament, State Governments, academicians, teacher unions, Chambers of Commerce, students etc.  and  appropriate  changes  are  being  made  in  the  draft  Bill based on the public feedback.

(f): The Government has taken several major initiatives in the Higher Education Sector during  the  last  two  years.  Substantive  changes  have  been  made  in  the  basic regulations  of  the  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC).  With  a  view  to  provide autonomy,  promote  quality  and  create  an  enabling  environment  whereby  Higher Educational Institutions can become institutions of global excellence, UGC has taken several  initiatives  in  the  form  of  Regulations  i.e.  (i)UGC  (Minimum  Standards  and Procedure for Award of M.PHIL./PH.D Degrees) Regulations, 2016,(ii)UGC (Open and Distance  Learning)  Regulations,  2017;  (iii)  UGC  (Promotion  and  Maintenance  of Standards  of  Academic  Collaboration  between  Indian  and  Foreign  Educational Institutions)  Regulations,  2016;  (iv)  UGC  (Institutions  of  Eminence  Deemed  to  be Universities)  Regulations,  2017;(v)  UGC  (Categorization  of  Universities  (only)  for Grant  of  Graded  Autonomy)  Regulations,  2018  and  (vi)  the  UGC  (Conferment  of Autonomous  Status  upon  Colleges  and  Measures  for  Maintenance  of  Standards  in Autonomous  colleges)  Regulations,  2018.  These  regulations  are  available  on  the UGC's website at www.ugc.ac.in.

With  a  view  to  encourage  research  and  development  in  the  country,  UGC  is implementing  schemes,  awards,  fellowships,  chairs  and  programmes  under  which financial  assistance  is  provided  to  institutions  of  higher  education  as  well  as  faculty members working therein to undertake quality research covering areas of knowledge across disciplines.The Government has also undertaken reforms in National Assessment  and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Further, the Government  has established an online storehouse of academic awards (degrees, diplomas, certificates, mark-sheets etc.) namely National Academic Depository (NAD) for making available academic awards 24x7 in online mode.

******