The Department of Higher Education (DHE) is a department within the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It is responsible for the overall development of the basic infrastructure of higher education in the country, including universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher learning. Its mandate encompasses policy formulation, planning, promotion, and coordination of higher education, as well as providing financial assistance and ensuring the maintenance of standards.
Mandate and Functions
The primary functions of the Department of Higher Education include:
- Policy Formulation: Developing and implementing national policies, plans, and programmes for the growth and development of higher education in India.
- Planning and Development: Strategizing for the expansion and improvement of access, equity, and quality in higher education institutions.
- Funding and Financial Assistance: Providing grants and financial aid to various higher education institutions and schemes, including central universities, deemed universities, and specific programs.
- Coordination and Standards: Coordinating with state governments, other central ministries, and various regulatory bodies to ensure harmonized development and maintenance of academic standards.
- Promotion of Research and Innovation: Encouraging and supporting research, innovation, and technological development within higher education.
- International Cooperation: Facilitating international collaboration in education, including exchange programmes and agreements with foreign universities and organizations.
- Administration of Institutions: Overseeing the administration and functioning of various central institutions of higher learning, including Institutes of National Importance.
- Scholarships and Fellowships: Administering various scholarship and fellowship schemes to promote access to higher education for deserving students.
Key Areas of Focus
The Department's purview covers several critical areas:
- University & Collegiate Education: Encompassing central universities, state universities, private universities, deemed-to-be universities, and affiliated colleges.
- Technical Education: Overseeing institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and other engineering and management colleges.
- Professional Education: Including architecture, pharmacy, and other specialized fields.
- Adult Education: While historically a part, its primary focus remains on higher and technical education.
- Language Development: Promoting Indian languages through various institutions.
- Book Promotion & Copyright: Initiatives related to publishing and intellectual property.
Attached and Subordinate Bodies
The Department of Higher Education oversees several autonomous and statutory bodies crucial for the governance and regulation of higher education:
- University Grants Commission (UGC): Responsible for coordination, determination, and maintenance of standards of university education, and disbursement of grants to universities and colleges.
- All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE): The statutory body for proper planning and coordinated development of the technical education system throughout the country.
- National Testing Agency (NTA): Conducts entrance examinations for admission to higher education institutions.
- Various Institutes of National Importance: Including IITs, NITs, IIMs, Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), and others.
- National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC): An autonomous body under UGC, assessing and accrediting higher education institutions.
History
The Department of Higher Education was historically part of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). In July 2020, the MHRD was renamed the Ministry of Education, with the Department of Higher Education continuing as one of its two primary departments (the other being the Department of School Education & Literacy). This renaming reflected a renewed focus on education as a core national priority.