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Government to scrap UGC, bring in new body with powers

The regulator will ensure academic standards; MHRD will handle grants

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The central government has decided to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC) with another apex higher education regulator that will focus solely on academic matters with powers to enforce quality standards. Non-compliance could result in fines or a jail sentence, which may extend up to three years. The commission will also form regulations about closing and opening of new institutions, says the Centre's draft Act.

Monetary grants will now be only the HRD Ministry's business. Currently, UGC, which came into existence in 1953, remains occupied with providing financial assistance to eligible institutions.

The proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) will come into existence by repealing the UGC Act, 1951, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday. "In a landmark decision, a draft Act for the repeal of UGC and setting up of HECI has been prepared," he tweeted.

All stakeholders and general public can give comments and suggestions on the draft Act before 5 pm on July 7. The document is available on the Ministry's website (www.mhrd.in). It is likely to be tabled in Parliament during the Monsoon Session starting July 18.

The Minister said the draft Act is in accordance with the commitment of the government to reform the regulatory mechanism to provide "more autonomy" to higher education institutes and promote excellence and facilitate holistic growth of the education system.

The proposed law will be called the Higher Education Commission of India Act, 2018 (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act).

The government was earlier planning a single regulator for technical education, national council teachers training and UGC.

However, it has been decided to strengthen the higher education regulator because it was felt that the current commission remains preoccupied with disbursing funds to institutes and is unable to concentrate on other key areas such as mentoring institutes, focusing on research to be undertaken and other quality measures required in the sector.

The commission will also have the power to order the closure of sub-standard and bogus institutions. Currently, UGC releases the names of bogus institutions on its website to inform the public but cannot take any action.

"The draft Act will reform the regulatory systems, provide more autonomy to higher education institutes to promote excellence and facilitate holistic growth of the education system. The transformation is based upon minimum government & maximum governance, separation of grant functions, end of inspection raj, focus on academic quality and powers to enforce," Javadekar said.

(With agency inputs)

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