Bill to make IIMs institutes of national importance

The government is preparing a bill which would accord IIMs the status of institutes of national importance, parliament was told Wednesday.

"The central government is in the process of preparing a bill under which the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) may be accorded the status of institutes of national importance," Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

She added that consultations on the subject had been done with the IIMs.

"...based upon inputs received from various stakeholders, a first draft of the bill has been prepared," she said adding that the bill may be introduced as soon as it is finalised and approved by the union cabinet.

An institute of national importance is one which serves as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country/state.