NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill 2016, paving the way for opening six new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), including one in Jammu and another in Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh).
The other four locations are Palakkad (Kerala), Goa, Dharwad (Karnataka) and Bhilai (Chhattisgarh). The bill also seeks to bring the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, within the ambit of the IIT Act.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been keen on making these IITs operational at the earliest after they got a Cabinet nod last December. The Bill got unanimous support from the Parliament.
According to HRD officials, the new IITs will be operated from temporary campuses for an initial three years and will be shifted to permanent campuses subsequently.
Replying to a debate on the bill, HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said the government has formed the High Education Financial Agency (HEFA) to upgrade infrastructure.
On the fee structure, he said students from the ST and SC communities, those from the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category and the physically challenged get a full waiver of fees in IITs and NITs. He said, those whose family income is below Rs 9 lakh per annum also get education loan at zero per cent interest.
“Education must be inclusive. But those capable of paying must pay. You should not oppose when the rich are being asked to pay,” the minister said.
{{/usCountry}}“Education must be inclusive. But those capable of paying must pay. You should not oppose when the rich are being asked to pay,” the minister said.
{{/usCountry}}“Education must be inclusive. But those capable of paying must pay. You should not oppose when the rich are being asked to pay,” the minister said.
Javadekar also spoke about the IIT-PAL online programme started by the government for combating the high costs that students face for undertaking coaching for the IIT entrance exam. Students can receive free tutorials, take mock exams and complete assignments in this program, he said.