Expert committee for upgradation of BPNSI at par with IITs

An expert committee appointed by the government to suggest ways of reviving and upgrading Biju Patnaik National Steel Institute today pitched for turning it into an academic establishment of national importance at par with the IITs.
"Espousing the urgent need for India to invest in R&D,the committee suggested ways to convert BPNSI into a think-tank for Indian iron and steel industry, with special emphasis on R&D, applied education and industry acclimatisation," said an official statement.
The committee, headed by former Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Planning Commission Sunil Kumar, suggested upgradation of BPNSI to an Institute of National Importance, for research and education in knowledge areas pertaining to steel sector, at par with the IITs, it said.

BPNSI to function as an autonomous body under the Steel Ministry with minimum government intervention and industry driven curriculum, it said.
The Committee suggested a two-tier campus infrastructure, built jointly by Centre, state and industry with a main Campus and satellite campuses.
While the main campus would offer B.Tech, M.Tech and PhD courses in different disciplines relevant to steel and allied industries; satellite centres would act as a link between the main campus and the industry.

Satellite centres would offer diploma and polytechnic courses to nurture technicians and supervisory staff for the steel industry, with provision for lateral entry to main campus for bright candidates.

As per the proposal, the main campus with maximum student strength of 5,400, will be spread over an area of 500 acres. Satellite campuses, planned over an initial area of 20 acres, will have the potential to expand into full fledged campuses offering higher education in due course of time.
"The suggestions made by the Committee are holistic and necessary to provide a pool of knowledge and skill for achieving 300 million tonnes of production by 2025," Steel Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said.
BPNSI was established by the steel ministry in 2002 to promote excellence in steel industry.