But NKC opposes Central Universities Bill

The National Knowledge Commission is alarmed by provisions of the Central Universities Bill,2008. This draft legislation,which vests overwhelming control with the Government,repeats earlier mistakes,and compounds persistent problems of higher education in India,negates the letter and spirit of the essential recommendations of the NKC. It represents a danger to autonomy and excellence in higher education, the NKC has said in a statement.

The Commission has further added that the draft legislation needs reformulation after consultation with all stakeholders and that it strongly believes that the Bill must not be rushed through the Ordinance route. The Commission has further proposed an Independent Regulatory Authority for Higher Education (IRAHE) at arms length from the Government,so that universities have academic freedom and institutional autonomy to foster excellence.

The IRAHE was proposed to be set up by an Act of Parliament and to be the only agency that would be authorised to grant degrees to higher education institutions,monitor standards,licence accreditation agencies and apply uniform norms to public and private institutions.