VBSA Bill 2025 to Empower Institutions, Focus on Student Outcomes
VBSA Bill 2025 decentralizes higher education in India, granting institutions more autonomy and focusing on student outcomes and inclusivity.
Vineet Joshi and TG Sitharam discuss VBSA Bill reforms and future of higher education at HT Future-Ed Conclave 2025.
The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025 is projected to be a revolution in the higher education governance of India as it will create a decentralized regulatory structure, thereby giving colleges and universities more freedom to operate and focus on student results. Vineet Joshi, Secretary of Higher Education and UGC Chairman, indicated that the upcoming legislation would transfer authority from a single central body to each institution, providing them with the capability to handle data and lead their own advancements.
Speaking at the HT Future-Ed Conclave 2025, Joshi said, “This framework replaces a maze of regulators with a streamlined system, without diluting expertise. Institutions will now engage with one regulator instead of 14–15, ensuring accountability and efficiency.”
Prof TG Sitharam, the AICTE chairman, stated that India is blessed with a huge supply of highly qualified people, who are well-versed in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, and even he noted that the talent pool is what attracts global firms to invest in India.
Additionally, Joshi linked the modifications to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which was stressing a learner-centered approach. "The cycle of learning, unlearning, and relearning has become an endless one."" Students must be prepared to create jobs or contribute meaningfully to the economy,” he said.
Approved by the cabinet on December 12, the VBSA Bill proposes replacing the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE with a single unified body. It also sets up a framework for the opening of higher education institutions with penalties of up to ₹2 crore for unauthorized establishments.
Sitharam pointed out the gradual change in the teacher's role in a technology-driven learning environment and the necessity of training teachers to conform to it. Joshi remarked that the institution's autonomy would now be linked to its performance and result, with the best institutions getting more freedom.
The legislation also supports the idea of inclusiveness by pointing to the fact that the admission growth of the SCs, STs, OBCs, and women is higher than the rest. Joshi further claimed that these changes signify a major structural transformation of the higher education system in India, and the country would be in a position to lead in innovation and entrepreneurship globally within the next five years.
