Parliamentary panel discussing VBSA Bill 'clause-by-clause'; review findings during monsoon session: Report

The parliamentary standing committee on education is currently conducting a “clause-by-clause” discussion with its members on the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill (VBSA), 2025, D Purandeshwari, BJP MP and committee chairperson, said, ANI reported.

The member of parliament also said in the report that the committee is expected to table the VBSA report in the monsoon session of parliament, as per the report.

"A clause-by-clause discussion is being held with the committee members. We do hope to do it (to table the report in the Monsoon session of Parliament). It will depend on how fast we do this. We do want to submit it to the Parliament,” MP Purandeshwari added, the report says.

Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025

The VBSA Bill was introduced by education minister Dharmendra Pradhan last year on December 15 ahead of the winter session of parliament.

The new bill, which was earlier known as the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, was tabled to constitute a single higher education regulatory body.

The new regulatory body would replace the existing University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

Although the new regulator will not have the authority to make grants to universities, it will take away the regulatory powers from the Council of Architecture.

The VBSA Bill, 2025 received several disagreements from opposition, teachers, and students organisations across the country.

One of the teachers and student’s organisations pointed out key concerns on the VBSA Bill, including the delinking of funding and regulation, with grants to be administered by the education ministry, potentially increasing bureaucracy and political influence.