HECI Bill 2025: Teacher, student groups to meet MPs, seek standing committee review

Several teachers’ bodies, student unions and education groups plan to meet members of Parliament in the coming days to urge referral of the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill 2025 to the Standing Committee before the winter session.

In a letter, the groups said the draft of the HECI Bill 2025 has not been placed in the public domain and has been moved forward without consultations with students, teachers and higher education institutions. A delegation of the Coordination Committee against HECI met Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, today, December 7, 2025, to request her intervention in Parliament on the Bill.

The groups recalled that the earlier draft of the HECI Bill released in June 2018 had received more than one lakh responses opposing its provisions.

They noted that the education ministry had acknowledged receiving extensive feedback at the time. The organisations said no clarity has been provided on the amendments reportedly made to the draft since then.

“The draft HECI Bill 2025 is not available in the public domain for scrutiny. It is being rushed without taking any feedback. There has also been no discussion with students, teachers and higher educational institutions, the major stakeholders in the education system. Nor have the States been given enough time to fully discuss the implications of this Bill,” the official statement said.

Limited representation in HECI

One of the main concerns raised is the shift of funding powers from the University Grants Commission to the Ministry of Education or a Special Purpose Vehicle. The signatories said this change would make the grant allocation process more centralised and subject to administrative control, affecting institutional functioning and state–centred coordination.

The letter noted concerns about the composition of the proposed HECI. According to the groups, the 2018 draft provided for a commission dominated by Central government officials, with limited representation from teachers and no mandated representation from marginalised groups.

The organisations also flagged the Bill’s regulatory framework, citing the introduction of authorisation, graded autonomy and closure provisions for institutions. They said such measures could lead to increased audits, higher fees and greater uncertainty among teachers and students. They added that the overriding effect of the Bill on earlier legislation would affect federal arrangements in higher education.

Concerns over diversity in higher education

The groups further state that the draft Bill does not address the need for diversity in higher education. They said a uniform regulatory model may not be suitable for institutions serving different regions and social backgrounds, especially those in rural areas.

The letter linked the concerns around the HECI Bill to the ongoing challenges under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, including changes in curriculum, delays caused by the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and reduced research opportunities. They said introducing a new regulatory framework at this stage would intensify existing issues.

Call for parliamentary review

The organisations requested the MP to raise these concerns in Parliament and seek wider consultations by referring the HECI Bill 2025 to the Standing Committee.

The signatories include the All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (AIFUCTO), FEDCUTA, JNUSU, AIFRTE, AIFRUCTO, STFI, AIPTF, AIFEA, IPSEF, AIDSO, SFI, AISF and several other teachers’ and students’ collectives.