The Indian government is preparing to introduce a comprehensive bill to replace the existing regulatory frameworks governing higher education and technical and teacher education — specifically the UGC Act, AICTE Act, and NCTE Act. A key feature of this proposed law is the establishment of a new Regulatory Council for Higher Education and Research (RCHER), designed to streamline oversight, quality assurance, and governance across diverse educational institutions. However, the council will not have the authority to grant funds to institutions, a shift that could reshape how education funding and regulation function in India.
Why the Reform Is Being Proposed
India’s current education regulatory architecture has long been critiqued for overlap, inefficiency, and bureaucratic complexity. The University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) operate under distinct mandates and rules, which sometimes leads to confusion and regulatory gaps.
The new bill seeks to unify these frameworks under a single regulatory umbrella — the RCHER — with the goal of promoting academic freedom, autonomy, standards, and accountability. Unlike its predecessors, the council will focus more on quality assurance, standard setting, and institutional accountability, rather than dual roles of funding and regulation.
Regulatory Council’s Scope and Limitations
One of the notable changes in the new framework is that the RCHER will not have the power to allocate grants to universities, colleges, or other institutions. Under the current UGC system, grant disbursal has been a major instrument of financial support for public universities and deemed institutions. By separating funding from regulatory oversight, the government aims to reduce conflicts of interest and ensure that funding decisions are made through transparent budgetary and policy processes rather than regulatory discretion.
The council will instead focus on:
- Framing national higher education policies
- Setting academic and quality standards
- Monitoring compliance with regulatory norms
- Promoting innovation and research across universities
By removing the grant-giving function, the RCHER is envisioned to act more like a neutral watchdog, assessing performance and outcomes without direct financial influence over institutions.
Implications for Educational Institutions
The shift in financial powers may change how universities and colleges plan their budgets, seek funding, and interact with regulators. Institutions that previously relied on commission-driven grants may now have to explore alternate funding streams, including government budgetary allocations, industry partnerships, and philanthropy.
Some academic leaders suggest this separation could encourage greater institutional autonomy by reducing regulatory control over financial matters. Critics, however, argue that without direct grant support, especially for smaller or resource-constrained colleges, quality improvements may slow without adequate financial backing.
A New Era in Education Governance
The proposed bill represents a major reimagining of India’s education regulation model. By consolidating multiple authorities into one council and disentangling funding from regulation, the government aims to modernise how institutions are governed, evaluated, and supported. If enacted, the law could significantly impact students, educators, and institutions nationwide.
