MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)
(a): Yes sir.
(b): The Task Force submitted proposed draft legislation namely,
Higher Education and Research Bill, 2010 seeking to establish,
inter alia, a National Commission for Higher Education and
Research (NCHER).
The composition of the Task Force is as follows:
(i) Prof. M. Anandakrishnan, Chairman, IIT Kanpur & Former Vice
Chancellor, Anna University, Chennai.
(ii) Prof. M. K. Bhan, Secretary, Deptt. of Bio-Technology,
Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.
(iii) Begum Syeda Saiyidain Hameed,Chancellor, Maulana Azad National Urdu University(MANNU) andMember, Planning Commission.
(iv) Dr. Narendra Jadhav, Member, Planning Commission & Former
Vice Chancellor, University of Pune.
(v) Prof. Goverdhan Mehta, National Research Professor and
Chairman,National Assessment and Accreditation Council,Bangalore.
(vi) Prof. N. R. Madhava Menon,
Member, Commission on Centre-State Relations Government of India.
(vii) Prof. Mrinal Miri, Former Vice Chancellor,North Eastern Hill University.
Additional Secretary (Higher Education) is Convener of the
Task Force.
The Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Task Force are as follows:
(i) To aid and advise the Central Government in the establishment
of a Commission for Higher Education and Research.
(ii) To aid and advise the Central Government in the establishment
of a National Testing system for admission to Universities and
other institutions of higher learning.
(iii) To aid and advise the Central Government in evolving new
governance structures for Universities.
(iv) To monitor the implementation of such
recommendations of the Committee to advise on
Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education and
the National Knowledge Commission as the Central
Government may decide to implement.
(iv) To aid and advise the Central Government in the establishment
of Innovation Universities aiming at world class standards.
(c) & (d): The draft legislation on the establishment of the
National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) as
prepared by Task Force was placed in the public domain for
consultations in the month of January, 2010. In addition to
receiving comments and suggestions from the general public and
experts, including state governments, the Task Force also held
eleven regional consultation seminars in various parts of the
country involving all stakeholders. An interaction session was
organized on 29th may, 2010 at Vigyan Bhavan wherein eminent
academics, heads of industry associations and professional bodies
were invited. The Bill as it was finalized after regional
consultations and interaction session on 29th May, 2010 was placed
before the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), the highest
decision making body in education in the country, in the CABE
meeting held on 19th June, 2010. The entire text of the Higher
Education and Research Bill was shared with all members of CABE.
The draft Bill was unanimously endorsed by the CABE. CABE decided
that all the states may be asked once again formally to furnish
their comments/remarks/suggestions on the proposed bill within a
month. A letter was consequently addressed to all states
accordingly by the Ministry duly enclosing a copy of the Bill. The
last date for receiving comments was kept as 20-07-2010. The
states which did not respond within a month were again reminded
and given a week’s time.
Separate consultation with heads and representatives of the
statutory regulatory authorities like Medical Council of India
(MCI), Bar Council of India (BCI), All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE), University Grants Commission (UGC) etc. was
also held on 13th February, 2010 at Indian Council for
Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.
(e): The report of the Task Force report has to undergo
consultations with relevant Ministries before an appropriate Bill
can be finalized.
