Lok Sabha Refers Higher Education Commission Bill to Parliamentary Joint Committee
Joint panel to review Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 and submit report before 2026 Budget Session
New Delhi, Dec 16: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday approved a resolution to refer the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, aimed at establishing a 13-member Higher Education Commission, to a joint committee of Parliament. The move was proposed by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and passed through a voice vote.
The joint committee will comprise 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. It is mandated to submit its report by the last day of the first part of the Budget Session 2026, which is expected to run from January 31 to February 10.
The bill seeks to streamline the regulation of higher education institutions by replacing multiple regulators with a single commission. The proposed Higher Education Commission, headed by a chairperson appointed by the President of India, will oversee central universities, colleges under the Ministry of Education, and institutes of national importance, including IITs, NITs, IISc, IISERs, IIMs, and IIITs.
The commission aims to address current challenges in higher education arising from overlapping authorities and non-uniform regulatory protocols, ensuring a harmonised framework for governance and academic standards across India.
