The concept of HECI was first introduced through the draft Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill, 2018, which sought to repeal the UGC Act of 1956 and was opened for public feedback. Progress was revitalized under Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in July 2021. The NEP 2020 underscores the need for a single regulator to address inefficiencies in the current fragmented system, aligning India’s higher education with global standards.