After a delay of over two years, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared the establishment of National Commission for Higher Education and Research, a higher education regulatory body. The NCHER proposes to subsume higher education regulatory bodies like University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education and Council of Distance Education. These agencies monitor various components of higher education in the country.
The approval of NCHER is being seen as a step towards the cause of higher education reforms in the country. It is understood that the bill, if passed by Parliament, will promote autonomy in the institutes of higher education. Once established the body will function as an umbrella under which disciplines — be it higher, technical or general-will function. It will also monitor the research in medical institutes. The bill is expected to be put before Parliament soon for its approval.
As per the Cabinet note, the NCHER will be an establishment with a substantial number of experts in various fields of higher education.
It comprises of 70 members which will include the representatives from every state and its regulatory bodies. It was in June, 2009 that the establishment of the body was conceptualised and announced in the Presidential address. Sources stated that by establishment of the body the government intends to improve the existing regulatory structure for higher education in the country. The government took experts opinion from Prof Yashpal Committee and National Knowledge Commission and it was prof. Yaspal committee that reinforced the NCHER establishment.
The establishment of the body came after several rounds of disagreement between Union Health ministry and HRD ministry as HRD ministry announced taking over the medical education under its ambit.
However, the matter was resolved a few weeks ago, paving the way for the establishment of NCHER. The health ministry has proposed the creation of a separate National Commission for Human Resource for Health.

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India regrets death of 3 bangladeshis
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, DEC. 20

India has expressed regret over the deaths of three Bangladeshi nationals, all suspected criminals, allegedly in firing by BSF personnel along the international border in West Bengal last week.
It has further said that such incidents can be averted through joint collaborative efforts and mechanisms.
In a detailed statement issued here on Wednesday by the ministry of external affairs, New Delhi said that while the Border Security Force “has exercised the utmost restraint and has resorted to firing in self-defence only in rare cases.... this policy of restraint has emboldened criminal elements who have stepped up their attacks on BSF personnel deployed along the border in order to facilitate their illegal activities”.
The statement added, “A number of attacks have been recorded on BSF personnel and posts along the India-Bangladesh border over the last few months.” It also noted that the Indian government has taken various measures among them a strict control on firing, intensive patrolling and introduction of non-lethal weapons for border patrols besides imposing restrictions on the movement of people along the border at night time.