Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, has urged the Union government to refer the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill to his committee for detailed scrutiny before it is introduced in Parliament during the upcoming winter session beginning December 1. Singh made this request in a formal letter addressed to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, stressing the importance of parliamentary oversight on legislation that seeks to overhaul the country’s higher education governance structure.

In his letter—also marked to parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju—Singh described the HECI Bill as a “significant legislation” that fundamentally restructures the existing regulatory architecture. Precisely because of its far-reaching implications, he argued, it must undergo thorough examination by the standing committee. Standing committees, he emphasised, exist to provide Parliament with informed analysis and an opportunity for cross-party discussion on complex laws before they are debated in the House. “It is critical that it be examined and discussed by the Parliamentary standing committee before it is taken up by the Parliament as a whole,” he wrote.

Singh requested that the bill be referred to his panel with a reporting timeline extending into the first phase of the budget session, allowing members sufficient time to evaluate the proposal, seek inputs from stakeholders, and review the administrative and federal implications. Expressing hope for an early and positive response from the government, he underscored the urgency of the matter given that the bill is expected to be tabled soon.

The proposed Higher Education Commission of India is envisioned as a single overarching regulator for higher education, replacing the current system where multiple bodies share regulatory authority. The bill seeks to subsume three major institutions:

• the University Grants Commission (UGC),
• the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and
• the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

If enacted, it would eliminate the long-standing system in which universities and institutions must navigate multiple approval processes and compliance requirements. The government describes this consolidation as a step toward simpler, more coherent regulation and improved efficiency in governance.

The framework for HECI is drawn from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which calls for a “light but tight” regulatory approach. According to NEP 2020, the existing regulatory system needs a comprehensive overhaul to energise the higher education sector, expand autonomy, and enhance academic innovation. A unified regulator, the policy suggests, would be better positioned to ensure standards while also reducing bureaucratic delays.

However, the proposal has also faced scrutiny from various quarters. In February 2025, the Singh-led standing committee had expressed reservations regarding HECI’s role as the principal regulator of higher education. The committee warned that the proposed structure risked concentrating too much authority in central hands, potentially diminishing the role and autonomy of states. Concerns were raised about federal balance, diverse regional needs, and whether the new framework adequately reflects India’s large and varied higher education ecosystem.

The letter from Digvijaya Singh revives these concerns and seeks to ensure that the bill undergoes the full, consultative process intended by parliamentary procedure. By emphasising the committee’s mandate and the importance of deliberation, Singh aims to encourage broader political and institutional engagement before the legislation is introduced for debate and passage.

The government has yet to publicly respond, but the issue is expected to be a significant point of discussion as Parliament convenes for its winter session.