New Delhi

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday dismissed opposition concerns that the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 would undermine institutional autonomy, asserting that states would continue to enjoy the same powers as they do at present.

Earlier in the day, Pradhan moved a resolution in the Lok Sabha to refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) of both Houses. The motion was approved by a voice vote.

“There is no threat to institutional autonomy. If the opposition has any concerns or misconceptions, they can be addressed by the JPC. The powers of the states will remain unchanged,” Pradhan said at a press conference.

Addressing apprehensions over funding, the minister said that under the existing framework, grants to central universities are routed through the University Grants Commission (UGC), while institutions of national importance receive funds directly from the Centre on a monthly basis.

He said the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisages separating the funding function from bodies responsible for regulation, accreditation and academic standard-setting.

“Accordingly, the disbursal of grants to centrally funded higher education institutions will be ensured through mechanisms devised by the Ministry of Education, which will be similar to or better than the existing systems,” Pradhan said.

He added that feedback from the proposed Regulatory Council on institutional performance would play a key role in determining the quantum of funding, ensuring transparency and public accountability. Support mechanisms such as Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) and Senior Research Fellowships (SRF) will continue under similar arrangements, he said.

The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 — earlier titled the Higher Education Council of India (HECI) Bill — has been introduced in line with NEP 2020. It seeks to merge the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) into a single overarching body.

Under the proposed framework, the new commission will function through three separate councils responsible for regulation, accreditation and academic standards across universities and higher education institutions.

Opposition members have raised objections, warning of excessive centralisation.

Congress MP Manish Tewari said the Bill could lead to “over-centralisation” of education, arguing that key aspects such as accreditation, degree-granting powers, penalties and institutional autonomy are left to be determined through rules and executive decisions.

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DMK MP T M Selvaganapathy also criticised the Bill, claiming it would make the Union government the primary decision-making authority, which he said goes against the spirit of the Constitution.