Monsoon Session 2023: NRF, dental, nursing commission Bills expected in Parliament

NEW DELHI: As the monsoon session of Parliament begins on Thursday, the Narendra Modi government is likely to introduce four education-related Bills in the coming weeks.

The government is set to table the National Research Foundation Bill, 2023, the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023, the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 and the National Cooperative University Bill, 2023 in this monsoon session.

According to a tentative list released by the government, there are 21 new Bills which have already been introduced in Lok Sabha and referred to joint committees and their reports presented. Missing from this list is the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill which has had a very long gestation period and as a replacement for the University Grants Commission, would represent a very major reform in higher education regulation.

There will be a total of 17 sittings of the lawmakers who will consider 37 Bills that are pending in Parliament, of which eight are listed for consideration and passing in this session.

The parliament’s monsoon session is scheduled to continue till August 11. It will also be the first session to be held in the new parliament building inaugurated in May. Education ministry business will start from Monday, July 24.

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National Research Foundation Bill, 2023

Replacing the SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board) Act, 2008 the Bill seeks to establish the National Research Foundation (NRF) which has an expanded mandate and covers activities over and above the activities of SERB. It was recommended in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

In June, minister of information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur had announced the government’s plan to set up NRF with a budget of Rs 50,000 crore to be spent in five years.

The proposed NRF will formulate regulations to encourage increased spending by industry on research and development.

The NRF will fund cutting-edge science in state universities. The regulatory body will have an executive council led by the principal scientific advisor who will decide on the qualifying criteria for research. Moreover, a governing board consisting of 20-25 researchers will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The NRF will also receive an innovation fund of Rs 1,000 crore.

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National Dental Commission Bill, 2023

The government is also likely to present the National Dental Commission Bill 2023 in Lok Sabha.

Repealing the Dentists Act, 1948, the new Bill seeks to set up a National Dental Commission to draft policies and maintain quality standards in dental education and the profession. The new commission will replace the Dental Council of India. The Bill aims to provide for a dental education system that “improves access to quality and affordable dental education” in India.

According to the draft, the Bill aims to enforce “high ethical standards” in all aspects of

dental services. It also seeks to standardise the procedure for graduates to enrol in the state dental registers, obtain licence to practise dentistry and to seek admission into graduate programmes through a National Exit Test (Dental).

National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023

The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 seeks to set up a National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC) replacing the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947.

The bill provides for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by nursing and midwifery professionals, assessment of institutions, maintenance of a national register and a state registers and creation of a system to improve access, research and development and adoption of latest scientific advancement.

The Bill proposes a common entrance test, mandatory registration and a temporary licence for foreign nationals who are qualified nurses and midwives to practise in India.

National Cooperative University Bill, 2023

The Bill seeks to establish India’s first ever university in the cooperative sector–National Cooperative University. Currently, the National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT) is the only institute that imparts education and training in the cooperative sector.

In response to a written query in March, home minister Amit Shah who also heads the cooperative ministry had confirmed that the government is planning to set up a cooperative university. “There is a need for establishment of a Cooperative University to firmly deepen the foundations of cooperative movement in the country. Efforts are being made in this direction,” Shah had told Parliament.