JPC on higher education Bill to interact with UGC, AICTE, NCTE officials this week
The Hindu
JPC will meet with UGC, AICTE, and NCTE officials this week to discuss the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill.
The Joint Committee of Parliament examining the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, which seeks to replace UGC, AICTE, and NCTE with a single regulatory body, is scheduled to interact with officials of all three regulatory authorities this week.
Opinion | A Bill that reimagines higher education regulation
The 31-member Joint Committee, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP D. Purandeswari, is scheduled to meet this week on Wednesday (March 11, 2026) and Thursday (March 12, 2026), for its second and third sittings, during which these interactions are expected to take place, in the presence of officials from the Ministries of Education and Law.
Significantly, the University Grants Commission, the body the VBSA Bill seeks to replace, has not had a full-time Chairperson since April last year, when then Chairperson M. Jagadesh Kumar retired. As of now, the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Education Ministry, Vineet Joshi, holds additional charge of the position. Mr. Joshi is also represented in the UGC in his official capacity as the Higher Education Secretary. The UGC website also does not list a Vice-Chairperson.
The first meeting of the joint committee examining the Bill was held on February 26, during which officials of the Education Ministry and Law Ministry briefed members on the circumstances under which the Bill was introduced in the 2025 Winter Session of Parliament. The officials made a presentation at this meeting, which showed the outline of the new regulatory structure as proposed in the Bill.
The Bill was introduced as a measure to “overhaul the regulatory framework” of higher education in India. It is meant to establish a 12-member Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan as an umbrella commission, under which regulatory (viniyaman), accreditation (gunvatta), and standards (manak) councils will operate.
Cuban diplomat reflects on the ties between Cuba and Kerala
The Book Review Literary Trust announces 2025 Short Story Contest winners, celebrating literary talent at the Nikhil Chakravartty Memorial Lecture.
Nambiyar Nagar residents face severe water shortages and inadequate transport, impacting daily life in the fishermen's community.
Mamata Banerjee accuses CEC of threats to Bengal officials, demanding fair elections and voter inclusion amid ongoing protests.
AIOBCSA calls for OBC inclusion in Karnataka's Rohith Vemula Act to address discrimination in higher education.
Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun announces comprehensive law and order measures for the upcoming Assembly election to ensure secure polling.
CM A. Revanth Reddy announces women’s stalls at restored lakes, emphasizing urban lake conservation and community development in Hyderabad.
Manipur BJP protests against Central and State leadership for inaction on MLA Vungzagin Valte's death and justice demands.
Chancellor Merz's party faces challenges after a narrow defeat in Baden-Württemberg amid a crucial year of German state elections.
Karnataka HC quashes rape case, emphasizing courts shouldn't serve personal vendettas over consensual relationships, highlighting legal boundaries.
Bengaluru Hotels Association warns of potential restaurant closures due to halted LPG supply, amid rising cylinder prices criticized by CM.
Two Karnataka climbers, Santhosh and Chinmayee, prepare to summit Mount Everest this April as part of a diamond jubilee expedition.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy emphasizes the need for police adaptation to combat cybercrime and narcotics effectively.