Syria made the request during President Bashar Al-Assad's official visit to India last week, sources said. The proposal was submitted by Syrian Technology and Telecommunications minister Emad Sabouni accompanying him.     

Government sources said India conveyed to Syria that it will consider the proposal.     

"Our hands are full. We are struggling to open many new IITs in India from the current academic year. There is also a problem of faculty shortage that we have to deal with," said a highly placed source.     

"So it seems difficult to initiate this project from this year. It will certainly take some time."     

Syria said in its proposal that it will offer land and other infrastructure for the institute but the faculty and content designing will be done by India.     

The Human Resource Development Ministry has decided that six new IITs will be functional from the current academic year.