HRD ministry mulls freeing higher education panel of political meddling

Two vice-chancellors as members in the 14-member commission could be from private universities

The ministry of human resource development (HRD) is mulling a rethink on including the minister in the advisory council of the newly proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HEC), which would replace the University Grants Commission (UGC). 

This would make the new higher education regulator statutorily free from direct political interference, according to educationists and former government officials, who had criticised the inclusion of a minister in an independent body. 

“Based on the suggestions received, we will re-examine provisions of the draft Bill including the role of the advisory council ,” R. Subrahmanyam, secretary of higher education in the HRD