MTB says education reforms should strengthen student learning, institutional autonomy and cooperative federalism.
New Delhi, 13 July: The Markazi Taleemi Board (MTB) has welcomed the Government of India’s initiative to reform the country’s higher education regulatory framework through the proposed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025, while emphasising that reforms of this scale should be guided by the Constitution of India, cooperative federalism, institutional autonomy and broad academic consultation.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a unified statutory framework for higher education by replacing the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). While the objective of simplifying regulation and improving quality is welcome, the Board believes that the success of any reform should ultimately be measured by its impact on student learning, research, innovation and institutional excellence.
Commenting on the Bill, Syed Tanveer Ahmad, Secretary, Markazi Taleemi Board, said: ”Educational reform must strengthen institutions, not merely restructure regulation. The ultimate test of any reform is whether it improves learning, promotes research and enables higher education institutions to serve society more effectively.“
Mr. Ahmad observed that education is included in the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India, making it a shared responsibility of the Union and the State governments. He said that any new regulatory framework should reflect the spirit of cooperative federalism, recognising the constitutional role of both levels of government while preserving the academic and administrative autonomy of universities and other higher education institutions.
He noted that integrating regulatory, standards-setting and accreditation functions within a single framework may improve administrative efficiency. However, he stressed that such a framework should also incorporate appropriate checks and balances to safeguard transparency, accountability, academic freedom and institutional independence.
”National standards and institutional autonomy are complementary, not competing, principles. Excellence is achieved when accountability is combined with academic freedom and responsible self-governance.”
The Board also noted that several State Governments, educationists and higher education institutions have expressed reservations regarding certain provisions of the Bill, particularly those relating to the distribution of regulatory powers. It said these views should be treated as a constructive part of the democratic policy-making process and carefully considered before the legislation is finalised.
The Markazi Taleemi Board urged the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Bill to engage meaningfully with State Governments, universities and other higher education institutions, teachers, students, education experts and civil society. The Board further emphasised that the proposed law should safeguard institutional autonomy, academic freedom, the constitutional role of the States and the rights of minority educational institutions guaranteed under Article 30 of the Constitution of India, while maintaining high standards of quality, transparency and accountability.
Concluding his statement, Mr. Ahmad said: “The Constitution provides the framework within which lasting educational reforms must evolve. We are confident that the Joint Parliamentary Committee will carefully consider the views of all stakeholders so that the final legislation strengthens India’s higher education system while upholding constitutional values, cooperative federalism and academic excellence.”
