Govt plans quota for faculty at IIMs

He, however, didn't comment further on the status of the draft IIM Bill or on the selection of a new chairman at IIM-A

In what seems to be a more favourable stance being taken towards the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Union Minister for Human Resources Development Prakash Javadekar on Friday said that the government desired more autonomy for the premier B-schools while commenting on the pending IIM Bill.

"The government desires for IIMs and higher education institutions to get more autonomy and be able to compete in the market based on their quality and grow accordingly. We also have to see that all sections of the society get justice," Javadekar told mediapersons during his visit to the IIM Ahmedabad campus on Friday. Javadekar, however, did not comment further on the status of the draft IIM Bill or on the impending selection of a new chairman at IIM-A.

Commenting further on the draft IIM Bill, Javadekar said, "Whatever provision is there in the Constitution is there in the draft too. Under the proposal for an IIM Bill, IIMs will get more autonomy. As of now they cannot offer degrees as they are incorporated as societies. We are planning to make amendments in the law so that they can offer graduate and post graduate degrees in future."

Javadekar stated that the visit was part of his efforts to reach out to students and faculty for the upcoming Education policy.

"After assuming the office of the minister of HRD, I have been visiting different institutions across the country and engaging in dialogue with students and teachers on the upcoming Education policy; basically taking inputs on the policy and how to improve the quality of education, especially higher education in the country. This is why am in IIM-Ahmedabad, the most prestigious IIM in the country, and have hold successful meetings with the faculty as well as students," he said.

With the MHRD receiving suggestions and holding meetings with educational institutes on the education policy, Javadekar said that the suggestions would be sent to a committee headed by an educationist. "The committee will prepare a final draft that would be placed before the Cabinet," he said.

Javadekar also chaired the convocation at the Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) and inaugurated the skill center at the teachers'university on Friday.

Meanwhile, he stated that one of the main focus of the government of "spreading education" was also being achieved with around 270 million students getting education in KG to PG courses. "Now, we have improve the quality of education, and we will take steps in this direction," he added.