SETTING UP OF TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES

---

There has been higher concentration of Technical Institutes in the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh as compared to other regions as these States mobilised private initiatives in setting up of technical institutes on a larger scale. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the statutory body for proper planning and coordinated development of technical education system throughout the country is aware of such regional imbalance and is encouraging setting up of new institutions in those regions, particularly in North and North Eastern Regions, having less number of Institutes so as to achieve a balanced growth. AICTE has advised its Regional Committees to give special attention to the requests received from the deficient States while considering their proposals. The matter is also deliberated in the Conference of State/UT Education Secretaries dealing with Technical Education held periodically and their cooperation is sought to minimise the regional imbalance by tapping private initiatives optimally. However, keeping in view the desirability to maintain the norms and standards uniformly throughout the country, there is no plan to relax the criteria as laid down in the regulations notified by the AICTE to set up technical institutes in the country.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr Vallabhbhai Kathiria in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.