From UGC to HECI: A Paradigm Shift in Higher Education Governance in India
By Chandrani Chakraborty, Advocate & Research Scholar.
Introduction
With the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) being planned to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), higher education in India is experiencing a radical transformation. Envisioned under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the shift from UGC to HECI signifies not merely an institutional overhaul but a broader ideological pivot—from a control-oriented regulator to a facilitator that fosters academic excellence, autonomy, and innovation. The move, however, raises several critical questions regarding regulatory scope, institutional freedom, funding mechanisms, and the future of Indian higher education.
Historical Context: The Evolution of the UGC
Established in 1956 through an Act of Parliament, the University Grants Commission has served as the apex body for the coordination, determination, and maintenance of standards of higher education in India.
It has played a central role in the development of universities, allocation of grants, and formulation of academic norms. However, over the years, the UGC has been increasingly criticized for excessive bureaucratic control, lack of innovation, overlapping mandates with other bodies (like AICTE and NCTE), and inadequate mechanisms to ensure academic quality and institutional accountability.
The Need for Reform
The global higher education ecosystem has dramatically evolved with increasing emphasis on outcome-based learning, interdisciplinary research, and digital pedagogies.
In contrast, the Indian regulatory framework remained fragmented and outdated. The multiplicity of regulators created confusion, compliance burdens, and institutional inefficiencies. There was a growing consensus among scholars, policymakers, and educators that a single, robust, and modern regulatory body is required to steer India’s higher education sector into the future. NEP 2020 recognized this need and recommended the dismantling of the current regime and the establishment of the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) to ensure “light but tight” regulation focusing on outcomes rather than inputs.
Structure and Mandate of HECI
HECI, as envisioned, will replace UGC and subsume roles performed by other regulatory bodies (excluding medical and legal education).
It will have four independent verticals: 1. National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) – to function as the single point regulator for the entire higher education sector. 2. National Accreditation Council (NAC) – to oversee the accreditation process and ensure quality benchmarks. 3. Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) – to disburse and monitor grants, thereby separating funding from regulation. 4. General Education Council (GEC) – to frame academic standards, curriculum frameworks, and learning outcomes. This separation of powers is a welcome change, as it aims to reduce conflicts of interest and enhance transparency, accountability, and specialization within the higher education governance structure.
Major Shifts: From Control to Autonomy
One of the defining shifts that HECI seeks to bring is moving from intrusive regulation to enabling institutional autonomy. Under the new system, well-performing universities and colleges will enjoy more freedom in matters of curriculum design, governance, and international collaboration. At the same time, underperforming institutions will be held accountable through transparent accreditation and periodic review mechanisms. Moreover, HECI will not have any grant-disbursing function. By creating a separate Higher Education Grants Council, the government aims to ensure that academic evaluation and funding remain independent.This is also expected to reduce delays and increase efficiency in fund allocation.
Opportunities and Promises
The proposed HECI framework carries several potential benefits:
- Simplified Governance: A single regulator will reduce the regulatory burden and overlap among UGC, AICTE, and other agencies.
- Quality Assurance: A dedicated accreditation body (NAC) will ensure continuous quality enhancement through transparent evaluation mechanisms.
- Academic Freedom: By ensuring institutional autonomy, HECI promotes a more dynamic and flexible academic environment.
- Global Integration: HECI’s framework supports internationalization of higher education and will potentially help Indian institutions rise in global rankings.
- Outcome-Based Regulation: The focus will shift to learning outcomes, employability, and research output rather than mere infrastructural compliance.
Challenges and Concerns
Despite its progressive vision, the transition from UGC to HECI is not without challenges:
- Legislative Hurdles: Replacing UGC, a statutory body, requires the repeal of the UGC Act, 1956.
This involves political consensus and parliamentary approval, which can be time-consuming.
- Federal Tensions: Education is a concurrent subject. The centralization of higher education regulation may be resisted by states seeking more control over regional institutions.
- Operational Clarity: The functional details of HECI’s verticals, especially in terms of autonomy, accountability, and grievance redressal, remain ambiguous in public drafts.
- Funding Mechanism: The separation of grants from regulation needs a strong, corruption-free system of monitoring and audit.
Otherwise, it risks perpetuating inefficiencies of the past in a new structure.
- Transition Period: Migrating thousands of institutions to a new regulatory framework will require significant capacity building, training, and technological adaptation.
Comparative Perspective: Global Best Practices
Globally, countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada have adopted consolidated regulatory mechanisms with independent quality assurance and funding councils.
The HECI model attempts to draw from such best practices while tailoring them to India’s demographic and institutional diversity. However, successful implementation will depend on the political will, administrative efficiency, and stakeholder involvement.
Conclusion
The proposed transition from UGC to HECI represents a bold attempt to reimagine higher education governance in India.
If implemented with sensitivity and foresight, HECI can become a cornerstone of India’s knowledge economy. However, the success of this transformation hinges not merely on institutional restructuring, but on ensuring academic freedom, inclusivity, and robust quality assurance mechanisms. HECI must function as a visionary facilitator of excellence, equity, and innovation rather than as a controlling bureaucracy as India aspires to become a global center for education.
References:-
- The University Grants Commission Act, No. 3 of 1956, INDIA CODE (1956).
- Ministry of Education, National Education Policy 2020, GOV’T OF INDIA (2020), https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf.
- Draft Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of UGC Act) Bill, 2018, MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/upload_document/heci.pdf.
- S.S. Jena, Higher Education Reforms in India: HECI Bill, 2018 and Its Implications, 53(2) UNIVERSITY NEWS 12 (2019).
- Pushkar, HECI is a step forward, but does not go far enough, THE HINDU (July 12, 2018), https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/heci-is-a-step-forward-but-does-not-go-far-enough/article24393767.ece.
- C. Raj Kumar, Reforms in Higher Education: Time for a New Regulatory Framework, THE TIMES OF INDIA (Aug. 10, 2020).
- B.D. Sharma, Autonomy and Accountability in Indian Higher Education, 68(3) INDIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 451 (2022).
- Pic Ref. https://www.aftergraduation.co.in/heci-to-replace-aicte-and-ugc-higher-education-bill-in-winter-session-parliament/
