See Full Document Text
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2129
ANSWERED ON- 11/03/2026
HECI and HEFA
2129 Shri Golla Baburao:
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:
(a) whether the proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) and Higher Education
Financing Agency (HEFA) are violation of Constitutional promise of equitable access to
education and resources;
(b) the reasons and justification behind Government’s move to concentrate regulatory powers
on HECI;
(c) when Government issues policy directions to HECI and HEFA and making decision of
Government final, whether it not hamper autonomy of Universities and the existing regulator;
and
(d) the reasons for providing HECI with powers to close University or College, as the case may
be, if Universities does not follow its directions?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (d): The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan(VBSA) Bill, 2025 (earlier Higher Education
Commission of India Bill) has been introduced in the Lok Sabha on 15th December, 2025.
Further, the Bill has been referred to the Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament and
presently the matter is under consideration of this Committee.
The Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) is a non- profit company under
Section-8 of Companies Act 2013 and registered as Non-Banking Finance company (NBFC)
with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Being a financial institution, HEFA provides loans for the
creation of physical infrastructure, research laboratories and equipments etc. to all the
Centrally Funded Institutions (CFIs) in order to ensure the top-quality learning environment,
improved research and infrastructure facilities for all the students.
Further, HEFA, being a financial institution registered with RBI, frames its own policy
within the ambit of RBI regulations. HEFA role is limited to provide loans facility to all Centrally
Funded Institutions (CFIs) without intervening in their autonomy and regulatory premises.
*****