Draft research bill gets states’ nod

The Centre’s longstanding proposal to set up the National Commission for Higher Education and Research has received the support of most states at the 57th Central Advisory Board of Education meeting on Saturday.

The Centre’s longstanding proposal to set up the National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) has received the support of most states at the 57th Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) meeting on Saturday.

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The CABE is the highest advisory body on education.

The NCHER will act as an overarching constitutional body, replacing regulatory bodies such as UGC and AICTE.

Addressing the media after the meeting, HRD minister Kapil Sibal said, “The states have been given four weeks to send their suggestions for the draft NCHER Bill... we hope to make it ready by August and introduce in Parliament during the Winter Session. The new body will restructure the higher education system, bring in quality and professionalism and augment research.”

However, states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana objected to certain provisions under which new universities will have to seek permission from NCHER before starting functioning.

Sibal said that states have also given approval for the ministry to look into the possibility of bringing medical, agricultural and legal education under the ambit of NCHER.

The CABE committee also endorsed the ministry’s plan to enforce a common curriculum for science and maths from the 2011 academic session.