IITs, IIMs seek exemptions from Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill to protect autonomy
Institutes of National Importance (INIs), including IITs and IIMs, have pushed back against the Centre's Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025, seeking exemptions from many of its provisions. The Bill aims to overhaul India's higher education regulatory framework by repealing existing bodies like UGC and AICTE and replacing them with a single apex body. INIs, along with Central universities, argue for protecting institutional autonomy, citing contradictions and centralizing provisions. While the government defends the Bill by pointing to Clause 49, which promises to protect INI autonomy, many institutes seek explicit language exempting them from the new regulatory structure, especially concerning approvals for online programmes and new colleges.
Key Points
- Institutes of National Importance (INIs) like IITs and IIMs are resisting provisions of the VBSA Bill, 2025.
- The Bill proposes a structural overhaul of higher education by replacing multiple regulatory bodies with a single apex body.
- INIs are demanding explicit exemptions to safeguard their institutional autonomy in research, curriculum, and academic activities.
- Concerns include centralizing provisions and the Bill's potential precedence over existing laws governing these institutes.
Exam Facts
- Bill name: Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025.
- The Bill is under review by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) headed by BJP MP D. Purandeswari.
- It proposes to repeal statutory Acts governing UGC, AICTE, and National Council for Teacher Education.
- Clause 49 of the Bill is cited by the government to protect INI autonomy.
- IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, IIM Sambalpur, IISER Mohali sought total exemption.
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