NEW DELHI: The human resource development ministry has assured the Bar Council of India that its powers will not be affected by the proposed Higher Education and Research bill, 2011, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday. "The Bar Council of India has informed that the Hon'ble human resource development minister vide his letters dated July 6, 2012 and July 30, 2012 has assured that the powers of the BCI in relation to educational institutions leading to grant of degree for the practice of law shall not be affected by the proposed Higher Education and Research Bill, 2011," law minister Salman Khurshid said replying to a question.