Parliamentary panel defers final meeting on higher education Bill amid Andhra Pradesh’s objections

Parliament’s Joint Committee examining the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill (2025) has postponed its meeting, initially scheduled for Friday, July 17, 2026, to July 20 to finalize its report. According to sources, the rescheduling follows objections raised by the Andhra Pradesh government, led by the BJP ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP), to various provisions of the proposed law.

The bill proposes to restructure higher education regulation in India by replacing the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) with a single apex body, Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA).

Impact on public universities

Hindu He had reported that the Andhra Pradesh government had suggested that the Bill could make the State’s legislative authority in higher education a “dead text”. He called for mandatory consultations with State governments before decisions affecting public universities are taken. The State also objected to Article 11, which allows the Regulatory Council to bypass State universities in awarding degrees, saying this could lead to “constitutional friction”.

The Andhra Pradesh government has also proposed a clause expressly restraining the Center from taking any action prejudicial to the autonomy, functioning and management of State institutions and universities. He also demanded mandatory consultations with the State before any action is taken against any State agency.

TDP’s reservations

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is learned to have held an informal meeting on Tuesday with committee chairman and BJP MP D. Purandeswari and a few other members to discuss the concerns raised. After TDP expressed its reservations at the meeting, it was decided to review the draft report.

“If we find any mistake that needs attention, we will clearly mark it. We have done this in the past on the Foundation Bill and also in the ongoing consultations on the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill. We have recommended that a list of offenses warranting automatic dismissal of a public servant be prescribed,” a senior TDP leader said.

The TDP Parliamentary Party is scheduled to meet on Friday to finalize its strategy for the Monsoon Parliament Session, which will begin on July 20.