Hyderabad: Peddapalli MP Gaddam Vamsi Krishna called for prioritising students’ interests, educational quality and regional aspirations while examining the Higher Education Reform Bill before a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in New Delhi.
Vamsi Krishna participated in the JPC meeting convened to review the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill-2025, a proposed legislation aimed at restructuring India’s higher education regulatory framework.
The Higher Education Reform Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2025, seeks to establish the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan as a single apex regulator for higher education institutions across the country.
Under the proposal, the new body would replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The framework aims to align higher education governance with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Higher Education Reform Bill discussed by stakeholders
During the meeting, officials from state higher education departments, academic experts and representatives of various organisations presented their views on the proposed legislation. Committee members discussed institutional autonomy, accreditation systems, quality benchmarks and measures to improve access to higher education.
Vamsi Krishna stressed that policymakers must keep students’ future at the centre of the reform process. Moreover, he said educational standards and regional concerns should receive adequate attention while drafting the final legislation.
Higher Education Reform Bill aims to streamline regulation
The MP expressed hope that the Higher Education Reform Bill would help create a more efficient, accessible and high-quality education system. He also said the proposed reforms should strengthen opportunities for students while improving the overall governance of higher education institutions.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee is expected to prepare a comprehensive report after examining suggestions received from stakeholders across the country. Vamsi Krishna said he actively represented the aspirations of Telangana and the Peddapalli Parliamentary constituency during discussions on the proposed Higher Education Reform Bill.