IIT council refers fee hike to a committee

Panel to submit a report on fee hike to HRD ministry for a decision on the matter

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will consider a fee increase for their programmes after a committee studies the matter. At its council meeting here on Tuesday, the IITs referred the matter of a fee rise to a committee, which will submit a report to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, which will decide on the extent of the fee hike.

"The matter has been referred to a committee, which will study and decide on the extent of the fee rise required. The suggestion to raise fees to Rs 2.5 lakh a year was given by the Anil Kakodar committee in 2011. It has been four years. There has to be a current assessment of the expenses per student," an IIT director said on condition of anonymity. He added no timeline was decided for submission of the report.

In its agenda for the meeting, the council had proposed a nearly three-fold increase in tuition fee - from Rs 90,000 a year to Rs 2.5 lakh a year -, as IITs subsidise three-fourths of the education provided. Only 53 per cent of the student population pays the fee, which helps IITs meet only a fourth of the operating expenses.

In a statement, the Ministry of Human Resource Development said, "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 council suggested that free-ships should be provided for all physically handicapped students."

Smriti Irani, Union minister of human resource development, chaired the meeting in Mumbai. She emphasised IITs carries a major responsibility of facilitating the 'Make in India' campaign by participating in research and innovating to improve the competitive edge of Indian manufacturing. "Already, many IITs are engaged in research. But they need to reach the frontiers of knowledge," the statement said.

The council is the apex policy-making body for the 18 IITs.

Vinay Sheel Oberoi, secretary (higher education), along with other senior officers, participated in the meeting, along with the chairmen and directors of all IITs.

The current system of admission to IITs, through a two-stage entrance, was reviewed by the council. It was decided the system would be further examined by a group, which would give its recommendations by the first week of November.

A peer-group assisted learning system will be put in place, under which bright senior students would handhold weak ones. The central government will support and fund this initiative. A system for admitting foreign students would also be set up, with preference given to students from Saarc and African countries.

The statement said all IITs would participate in the national ranking framework and ensure details of their performance were placed on the NIRF portal before December 31. "They will also participate in the Rashtriya Avishkaar Abhiyaan by adopting schools in their vicinity," the statement said.