Single higher education regulator to replace UGC, AICTE

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) is planning to scrap UGC and AICTE to set up a single higher education regulator, christened as Higher Education Empowerment Regulation Agency (HEERA), with an aim to bring technical and non-technical institutions under one regulatory body.

Sources said the HRD Ministry is working with the Niti Aayog to prepare a detailed blueprint of the proposed regulator and its legislation is being worked upon.

The ministry observed that multiple regulatory bodies led to excessive and restrictive regulation and hence contributed to lack of institutional autonomy, said sources.

Earlier, various committees set up by the Central government had also recommended for setting up of a single higher education regulator.