An alternative to Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan Bill, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan (VBSA) Bill aims to implement the National Education Policy (NEP 2020).
• The Bill is currently under review by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
• Concerns have been raised regarding the Bill's potential to overreach constitutional limits and centralize power within the Union government.
• The Bill faces criticism for potentially undermining the multi-cultural character of Indian knowledge and autonomy of higher education institutions (HEIs).

Detailed Insights:

• The VBSA Bill grants discretionary powers to Union government-controlled councils for setting standards and conducting inspections in HEIs.
• The Bill is criticized for potentially marginalizing State Higher Education Councils (SHECs) and lacking provisions for inter-institutional, inter-State, and inter-regional justice.
• Concerns exist that the Bill may lead to the central government withdrawing from funding education and increasing reliance on loans for higher education.
• The proposed National Research Foundation (NRF) lacks provisions for providing block grants to State universities (SUs) for integrated scholarship.
• The Bill's Regulatory Council (Viniyaman Parishad) could give the Centre excessive control over recognizing, authorizing, and closing institutions.
• The Accreditation Council (Gunvatta Parishad)'s technology-driven quality assessment may prioritize outputs over desirable societal outcomes.
• An amended Bill should give equal weightage to SHECs and the Union government in regulation, accreditation, and standards determination.
• A separate Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) is proposed to disburse funds for integrating teaching, research, and outreach, addressing historical discrimination against state-run institutions.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Education Policy (NEP 2020): A comprehensive framework to revamp the education system in India.
• Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Universities, colleges, and other institutions providing post-secondary education.
• State Higher Education Councils (SHECs): State-level bodies responsible for planning and coordinating higher education.