Birla, other India Inc bosses may head IIT boards

As it aims to "strengthen the partnership between industry and academia", the Human Resource Development Ministry is understood to have contemplating appointment of leading business captains as chairpersons of Board of Governors of prestigious IITs.
According to sources, the ministry has sought the nod of President Pranab Mukherjee to appoint Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of the Aditya Birla group, to head the Board of Governors of IIT-Delhi.
Apart from Birla, the ministry is also understood to have zeroed in on some other leading figures from the industry to head these prestigious institutions.
Sources said that Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Cadila Pharmaceuticals Rajiv I Modi is likely to be appointed as the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of IIT-Guwahati.

In this case too, the approval of the President has been sought, the sources said.
Approval of the President, who is the Visitor of these prestigious institutions, is needed for the appointments.
Another eminent business leader from the pharma sector Pankaj Ramanbhai Patel is understood to have been considered by the ministry to head the Board of Governors of IIT Bhubneswar while Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman and CEO of Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, Chennai may be appointed as the Chairperson of Board of Governors of IIT Jodhpur.
"It is important that the eminent person who is appointed as the head of Board of Governors of these technology institutes brings a fresh look and government also realises the need to strengthen the partnership between industry and academia. So the intent is to bring someone who can bring expertise and perspective," a senior official said.