MHRD plans to increase funding for State Universities

Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is proposing to introduce a Bill to increase funding for State Universities, informed M M Pallam Raju, Union Minister for HRD.

The Bill is expected to be introduced in Budget session of the Parliament.

India has 285 State Universities and as per survey by MHRD, they are facing fund related problems. The shortage of teaching staff is one of the main side effects of fund problem.

National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad becomes 41st institute of national importance

National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad was accorded the status of "institution of national importance" by an act of parliament. NID is now the 41st institute to have such a status. NID was established in 1965. With the new status NID will be will be authorised to give degrees and offer PhD's. NID is now entitled to receives special recognisition and funding from the government.

Government lowers higher education spendings by 13%

Central Government has decided to cut the budget of Higher Education by 13% this fiscal year owing to fund crunch. This move by the government is likely to hit two most important projects enacted by Central Government - newly established IITs and IIMs and National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT). Aakash Tablet was part of NMEICT. "The Planning Commission has informed the HRD ministry officially about the cut in the budget," informed one of the officials of Ministry for Human Resource and Development (MHRD)

IIT Bill passed by Parliament, now students to get degrees by IIT

Parliament has passed a bill that will make way for existing six IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) to grant degrees to the engineers that pass out. The Institute of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2010, along with the National Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2010, was passed by the Rajya Sabha by voice vote Monday. Both the bills have already been passed by the Lok Sabha. The bills were pending in the Rajya Sabha.

Indian HRD minister to bring in Educational Reforms

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal is going to present bill for bringing few reforms in the higher education sector. Previously the bill was opposed by the opposition and the ruling party. Kapil sibal has planned to call a meeting with the MP's of other political parties to discuss education reforms so that there was no delay in passing of the bill in the parliament and to avoid any opposition.

US keen to invest in Indian Education Sector

US is keen on removing barriers that limits the American educational institutions from setting up campuses in India. William Burns said US schools want to partner with India and set up institutions here. Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010 is still pending with the parliament and is approved by the cabinet. According to the bill any institution willing to set up campus in India will have to go through a process of scrutiny.