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In a conversation with News18, former UGC Chairman Prof Jagadesh Kumar explains how HECI will replace UGC, AICTE and NCTE, reshape regulation and support autonomy.
Prof Jagadesh Kumar tells News18 that NEP 2020 and HECI will strengthen academic independence and support innovation in universities.
As the government prepares to introduce the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill in Parliament this winter session, the future of India’s regulatory framework for higher education has become a subject of significant debate. To understand the implications of replacing UGC, AICTE and NCTE with a single regulator, News18 spoke to Prof Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, former Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and former Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
In this exclusive conversation, he shares his perspectives on how the transition to HECI may unfold, its impact on academic autonomy, the role of state universities, and whether the move represents genuine reform or merely administrative restructuring.
Here are the edited excerpts of the interview:
Q. What challenges do you foresee in the transition from UGC to HECI, especially when integrating the roles currently performed by AICTE and NCTE?
Prof Jagadesh: Careful consideration has been given to the transition from the current regulatory system to HECI as envisaged in NEP 2020. UGC, AICTE and NCTE are distinct regulatory bodies with different data systems and decision-making styles. NEP 2020 advocates an integrated approach, envisioning a convergence of professional and general education and enabling institutions to become large multidisciplinary universities. This requires harmonised norms on faculty qualifications, infrastructure, online delivery, skill education and assessment across streams previously in separate silos. HECI will address practical challenges with approvals and pending files, giving institutions clarity on authority and processes during the transition. It will adopt strong communication, phased timelines and transparent legacy rules, while professional councils will provide their views through HECI via designated representatives.
Q. How might HECI impact the academic independence of universities, particularly in areas such as curriculum design and degree approval?
Prof Jagadesh: NEP 2020 emphasises academic independence along with responsibility. It links regulation to learning outcomes rather than micromanaging educational institutions. HECI will strengthen this shift by focusing on broad curricular frameworks, such as credit structures, levels, and expected graduate capabilities, while leaving institutions free to decide pedagogical style. HECI will also champion the Indian language medium of instruction and Indian Knowledge Systems in a way that the earlier education system could not. HECI will set explicit norms that recognise Indian epistemic traditions while keeping global benchmarks in view. This approach can give universities the confidence to design creative programmes, for example, a BSc in Physics with Indian astronomy modules, without regulatory confusion.
Q. Do you believe that shifting to a single regulatory authority will improve efficiency, or is there a risk of excessive centralisation of power?
Prof Jagadesh: A single regulator can improve efficiency by reducing duplication and conflicting directions. Today, institutions often juggle guidelines from UGC, AICTE and NCTE that overlap or diverge. This current system keeps our educational system fragmented. HECI will adopt risk-based, data-driven regulation and utilise technology for faceless approvals and disclosures. As a national body, HECI will protect student interests while respecting institutional diversity. HECI will safeguard against unhealthy centralisation through transparent criteria, appeal mechanisms and continuous dialogue with universities and state governments.
Q. How could the HECI framework affect the autonomy of state-run universities that currently operate under state legislation?
Prof Jagadesh: State universities play a crucial role in India’s mass higher education system. HECI will operate within the constitutional framework where education is on the Concurrent List and state Acts define university structures. NEP 2020 does not dilute that framework but calls for common principles on quality, transparency and mobility. For state universities, HECI can serve as a national reference point for technology integration, including the Academic Bank of Credits, National Credit Framework, skills education and accreditation. It will support student mobility across state borders and between different types of institutions. States can continue to decide on fee policy, reservation norms, multidisciplinary education, industry-academia collaborations, startup ecosystems and funding, subject to constitutional limits. HECI will conduct structured consultations with state governments and state higher education councils to enhance autonomy and support long-term planning and decision-making.
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Q. From a policy perspective, do you think HECI will meaningfully reform India’s higher education system, or is it essentially a restructuring of existing bodies?
Prof Jagadesh: There should be no confusion about whether HECI represents deep reform or a cosmetic reshuffle. NEP 2020 strongly emphasises the need for an integrated approach and “light but tight” regulation, linking it to a move towards large, multidisciplinary universities, flexible curricula, and strong research cultures. HECI will function as a strategic commission rather than a clearance office. It will promote programmes rooted in the Indian language medium of instruction, local economies, and Indian Knowledge Systems while insisting on global standards of rigour. That combination can shift Indian higher education away from narrow affiliation routines towards institution building rooted in Indian ethos.
Q. Will the establishment of HECI influence the way grants and financial support are allocated to institutions? Do you think funding and regulation should remain separate or be unified?
Prof Jagadesh: HECI will shape funding patterns indirectly. NEP 2020 clearly states that regulation, accreditation, and academic standards should not be in a single office to avoid conflicts of interest. From a policy perspective, this design enables India to link grants to transparent performance indicators, such as accreditation, research output, inclusion metrics, and support for Indian language and IKS-based programmes, while keeping day-to-day regulation distinct. Such arm’s-length arrangements enhance trust in the system. Since HECI will publish clear criteria for mandatory public disclosure of funding data and learning outcomes, institutions can plan with greater confidence, and society can see how public investment aligns with national priorities.
Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-…Read More
Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-… Read More
November 26, 2025, 10:52 IST
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