Prof. Raziq Wadood

The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill, 2025: Paradigm Shift or Centralized Control? An Analysis

Abstract: The central dilemma investigated in this article is the delicate, perhaps irreconcilable, tension between the Bill's rhetorical commitment to institutional autonomy and the inevitable centralization of regulatory authority. By vesting appointment powers and ultimate decision-making authority in the Union Government, the VBSAB faces legitimate criticism regarding the potential politicization of standards and the dilution of academic independence. Furthermore, the article delves into the critical issue of federalism, analysing the apprehension of state governments concerning the imposition of unified national standards on state-funded universities that lack the financial parity of centrally funded institutions, potentially widening the existing quality gap. Drawing upon comparative studies of regulatory bodies like the UK's Office for Students and Australia's TEQSA, the paper contextualizes the VBSAB reforms within global best practices. Ultimately, this analysis argues that while the Bill presents a structurally sound, forward-looking blueprint for India's education sector, its success is wholly reliant on mitigating implementation risks—specifically preventing bureaucratic inertia during the merger, safeguarding the HEGC's financial independence, and ensuring genuine consultation to avoid the replacement of the "Inspection Raj" with a new "Compliance Raj" driven by centralized decree.

Keywords: Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill (VBSAB); Regulatory reforms; Institutional autonomy; Centralization; Federalism

Pages: 18-31

DOI: 10.65002/IIJETS.VOL.1.ISSUE.2.003