Major reforms Bills in higher education likely in Par session

Aimed at taking its reforms process on a fast track, the HRD Ministry plans to introduce three Bills on higher education, including one on setting up of a national accreditation body, during the current Parliament session.

Apart from the Bill on the national accreditation body, the ministry has already drafted two more on setting up of educational tribunals and on checking malpractices in institutions of higher learning.

The Bills are expected to come before the Union Cabinet this week.

"The Lok Sabha Secretariat has been indicated that the ministry wants to introduce these Bills this session. Once the Cabinet clears them, they would be introduced," ministry sources said.

The government wants to set up a National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) as an overarching body in higher education. The accreditation norms and standards will be laid down by the proposed NCHER.

The accreditation body will follow the norms and give registration to all types of institutions, including those offering medical education.

Institutions failing to get through the accreditation norms may be closed down or given certain amount of time to comply the requirements.