IIMs to submit plans for increasing seats to HRD ministry

The number of seats in the coveted Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) is set to increase substantially as the HRD ministry has asked these business schools to ponder over ways in which their intake capacity can be increased.
Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar today held a meeting with heads of various IIMs here today where measures to cater to the increasing demand of quality education in the country was discussed during the meeting, according to an official statement.
"Firstly, IIMs will submit plans for expansion of their intake capacity, so that more students get opportunity to enroll themselves in the best institutes. Directors of IIMs pondered upon the possibility of the extent of increasing the intake capacity in their respective institutes and assured of submitting the proposals at the earliest," the statement said.

Officials sources said that presently around 20 IIMs take in nearly 10,000 students every year and HRD ministry is keen that this number be taken close to 20,000.
According to the statement, Javadekar also told reporters after the meeting that possibility of expansion of Doctoral programmes was discussed.
He expressed that creating more quality PhD programmes will address the issue of shortage of faculties in institutes, the statement said.

And for creating more PhDs, the Minister said that, better avenues of fellowship will be offered to willing candidates. He added that in line with the IIT Council, where it has been decided to award PM's scholarship for PhD programme, government approval will be sought for PM's scholarship for best of PhD scholars in IIMs.

Final decision in this regard will be taken with Cabinet approval, the Minister said.
Also, it was decided that IIMs will participate in a new initiative of government to make 20 world class institutes.
The HRD minister also learnt to have emphasised ensuring that the institutes are socially equitable with regard to admissions and recruitments, a source said.