By Autar Nehru
The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill (VBSA), 2025, tabled in Parliament on 15 December 2025, will likely stand out as the single most consequential moment for Indian higher education this year. Coming at a time when a sense of vibrancy has visibly returned to campuses and classrooms, the Bill marks a decisive pause—and perhaps a reset—after years of churn driven by rapid technological change, shifting business models, and the profound disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. In hindsight, the pandemic increasingly appears as an interval in a larger transition, rather than its defining moment.
The VBSA Bill: A New Regulatory Architecture
At the heart of this transformation is the VBSA Bill itself. The somewhat convoluted term “Adhishthan”—closer in meaning to a commission than an establishment—is set to become the new regulatory brand replacing the University Grants Commission (UGC). For over 60,000 higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country, this signals a new regulatory reality to engage with and gradually build upon in the coming years.
One reassurance, however, is clear. Much like the transition from the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which did not trigger systemic disruption, the shift envisaged under VBSA is designed to be seamless. Over the next two years, the regulatory and functional responsibilities currently exercised by the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE are expected to transition smoothly, minimising governance anxiety for institutions in the short term.
Parliamentary Scrutiny and Consultation
A particularly prudent step by the government has been the decision to refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed consultation. Announced during the recently concluded Winter Session, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan proposed a 31-member JPC—21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha—with a mandate to submit its report by February 2026, on the last day of the Budget Session before the mid-session recess.
The JPC mechanism is both efficient and inclusive, allowing diverse viewpoints to be consolidated while ensuring transparency through public reporting. This consultative phase is expected to fine-tune the legislation, paving the way for a landmark reform in 2026—one that could have ripple effects across multiple sectors and significantly impact India’s youth population.
Anchored in NEP 2020
The VBSA Bill is firmly rooted in the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, which calls for a comprehensive overhaul of education governance to align India’s system with the aspirational demands of the 21st century, including Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG-4). The NEP explicitly recognises that India’s regulatory framework requires a reset to re-energise higher education and enable it to thrive.
Central to this vision is the principle of “light but tight” regulation—ensuring integrity, transparency, and efficiency through audits and public disclosure, while simultaneously encouraging innovation through autonomy, good governance, and institutional empowerment.
Federalism and the Question of Control
A recurring concern, however, is whether the Bill risks diluting federalism in education governance, leaving states with limited regulatory autonomy. Constitutionally, the Union List (List I) empowers the Centre to coordinate and determine standards in higher education. Accordingly, the UGC was established under the UGC Act, 1956, and for nearly seven decades this arrangement has largely functioned without major conflict, even as higher education expanded rapidly.
Yet, one persistent weakness has been research funding. Indian higher education has evolved in response to economic and employment realities, producing both notable successes and systemic gaps. Research grants remain limited, unevenly distributed, and often burdened with cumbersome approval processes. This has stunted a robust R&D culture across most mainstream HEIs. Private universities, in particular, have long protested what they perceive as step-motherly treatment, citing near-exclusion from public funding mechanisms.
Regulation, Accreditation, and Autonomy
Former UGC Chairman Prof. M. Jagdish Kumar, while welcoming the VBSA Bill, rightly underscored that although research is critical for national advancement, employability and competency-building remain immediate priorities for the majority of India’s HEIs—especially those located in rural and semi-urban areas.
The Bill’s core rationale is to simplify and unify regulation, reduce fragmented oversight, and eliminate bureaucratic duplication while strengthening academic autonomy and quality assurance. In an increasingly globalised higher-education ecosystem—where research output circulates internationally—such coherence is essential.
Implicitly, the Bill makes accreditation non-negotiable, emphasising transparency and public disclosure. While this is a welcome step, safeguards are essential to ensure that accreditation does not become an instrument of harassment or arbitrary restriction.
One constructive suggestion for the JPC would be the establishment of regional or state-level offices, even within a technology-enabled single-window framework. Empowering these offices—and clearly defining a role for state governments—could meaningfully address federalism concerns. Bringing the three proposed councils—the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Viniyaman Parishad (Regulatory Council), the Gunvatta Parishad (Accreditation Council), and the Manak Parishad (Standards Council)— under one administrative umbrella is a hugely forward-looking step. An explicit funding framework if incorporated, would further strengthen coherence.
Judicial Interventions and Campus Life
Beyond legislation, 2025 also saw decisive judicial intervention. The Supreme Court’s engagement with student mental health marked a turning point. Despite widespread rhetoric over the past five years, institutional prioritisation of mental health remained weak—evident in the poor cooperation faced by the Court-appointed National Mental Health Taskforce (NTF). While the Taskforce’s timeline has slipped, the groundwork is now laid, and meaningful frameworks and interventions are expected in the coming year.
Equally significant was the Court’s scrutiny of irregularities in private and deemed universities, including allegations of corruption, dilution of norms, and regulatory violations. This intervention has the potential to clean up the ecosystem and bring greater clarity and legality to the establishment and governance of such institutions.
Adding to this renewed institutional energy was the return of student politics. Student union elections in iconic universities and protests in institutions such as Punjab University and Tezpur University signalled that the long pause in campus activism is over—and that student voices are once again asserting themselves.
A Year of Measured Progress—with Caveats
Overall, 2025 can be described as a year of measurable progress for Indian higher education. Universities are gaining greater global recognition and improved rankings, reflecting stronger research output, academic reputation, and domestic quality benchmarks. India’s growing presence in global rankings such as QS positions it among the fastest-rising higher-education systems in the G20. Domestically, NIRF 2025 reaffirmed institutional strength well beyond the traditional elite.
At the same time, reforms have not been without friction. The effectiveness of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) has come under scrutiny, with institutions like Delhi University reporting over 5,000 vacant seats across programmes—partly attributed to the new admissions framework once hailed as a transformative reform.
Looking Ahead
As India stands at this inflection point, the coming year will be crucial. If refined through consultation and implemented with sensitivity to federalism, autonomy, and equity, the VBSA Bill could redefine Indian higher education for decades.
