All 16 IITs, will meet in Chennai on September 22 to discuss various issues
The heads of IITs also plan to raise their objection to the UGC's directive that they should not award four-year degrees. (Photo: DC/File)
Chennai: The IIT Council, chaired by HRD minister Smriti Zubin Irani, with chairmen and directors of all 16 IITs, will meet in Chennai on September 22 to discuss various issues, including the revision of the eligibility criterion for IIT counselling, review of directors’ appointments and the stand-off between UGC and IITs over the award of a four-year degree by the IITs.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle over phone from Kanpur, former Anna University vice-chancellor and chairman (board of governors) at IIT-Kanpur, Prof M. Anandakrishnan said the council would discuss various issues, including the recommendation made by IIT’s joint admission board, to tweak the eligibility criterion from the present top 20 percentile in board exams to the top 20 percentile or 75 per cent marks in board exams, whichever is lower.
The heads of IITs also plan to raise their objection to the UGC’s directive that they should not award four-year degrees.
“The UGC cannot direct us not to award four-year degrees as we don’t come under its purview. All institutes have their own autonomy which gives them power to decide their own courses; so how can the UGC interfere in our functioning?” the director of one of the IITs asked.
The director also pointed out that Ms Smriti Irani had made it clear that the IITs’ council meet would take place in any one of the IITs periodically rather than New Delhi always. “The minister says that it would give her a chance to visit the institutes to look at their physical and intellectual infrastructure,” the director said.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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