PIB Press Releases

A committee is to be set up shortly to select five institutions/colleges to be upgraded and converted into IITs. With these the number of IITs in the country will go up to 12. The Government had earlier set up an IIT at Guwahati and converted the Regional Engineering College, Roorkee to the another IIT, taking the total to 7 from 5. This information was given by the Minister for Human Resource Development and Science and Technology, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, here today while inaugurating the first international meet of the Alumini Association of the National Institute of Technology, Warangal.

Speaking about upgradation of Regional Engineering Colleges to IIT, Dr. Joshi said it is a slow process and will be done in a phased and gradual manner. About management of top institutions like IITs, IIMs etc the Minister said that these will be managed by professionals only and will have no political linkages. In fact, he said that at present, no such institution is under political management. The Managers are either scientists, technocrats or industrialists who have something to do with technology.

Describing technology as a tool towards national progress, the Minister underlined the need to drastically enhance our technological manpower. The intake of engineering colleges has gone upto 3 ½ lakh at present, from one lakh. The number of engineering colleges have risen to 1600. Still this is not enough for a country like ours. Dr. Joshi also pointed out that if we have to borrow technology from west, then why have such institutions. He also said that Regional Engineering Colleges have a purpose and that is to meet the local requirements. He made it clear that science is universal and technology is not, except highly advanced ones. Hence, he urged these institutions to concentrate on developing original technology. We must become masters of our own technology, as technology is power and wealth, he added.

The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Digvijay Singh who addressed the meeting said that converting RECs into NITs was a great vision. It is because of such great institutions India is known globally for its technological prowess.