The decision to increase tuition fees for students of IITs were put on hold at the crucial Council of IITs meeting chaired by HRD Minister Smriti Irani in Mumbai on Tuesday. The meeting agenda had proposed a funding mechanism for IITs to support the running costs by incurring lump sum costs on students but sources said that the HRD Minister asked to put the item on hold.
On the other hand, the Council decided to enhance Government investments for building world class infrastructure. A committee of directors would examine ways to enhance loans to students, and maintain and enhance scholarships to needy students, especially those from the SC/ST/economically weaker sections.
The current system of admission through a two-stage entrance was also reviewed by the council. It was decided that the system would be examined in depth by a group of eminent persons to determine whether it needed modification. Their recommendations would be provided by the first week of November 2015.
Chairing the meeting, Irani emphasised that IITs carry a major responsibility of facilitating the Make in India campaign by participating in research and innovating processes to improve the competitive edge of Indian manufacturing on the global stage.
“Already many IITs are engaged in research, but they need to reach the frontiers of knowledge. It is also essential that socially relevant themes are given focus in research,” Irani said expressing the need to build IITs into robust and autonomous institutions, and become global centres of knowledge.
Higher Education Secretary Vinay Sheel Oberoi, along with senior officers participated in the meeting along with Chairmen and Directors of all IITs. The Council of IIT is the apex oolicy making body for the all the IITs.
It was also decided that a system for admitting foreign students would be put in place, with preference being given to students from SAARC and African countries. All IITs would participate in the National Ranking Framework and the Rashtriya Avishkaar Abhiyaan by adopting the schools in their vicinity.
Prior to the Council meeting, the Minister inaugurated a new 1,000-seater hostel for girl students and visited the National Centre for Aerospace innovation and research (NCAIR) in IIT Bombay.