TECHNICAL EDUCATION
The main programmes of the Government of India in the field of technical education are :
(1) Development of post-graduate studies and research, (2) Establishing linkages between technical institutions and industry, (3) Linking technical education with manpower requirements, (4) Consolidation of existing engineering colleges and polytechnics, (5) Reorganization of degree and diploma courses, (6) Faculty development through training programmes, (7) Curriculum development (8) Diversification of courses; and (9) Development of management education.
All these programmes are carried out through the engineering education complex consisting of Institutes of Technology, University Departments of Engineering and Technology, the Institutes of Management, the Specialised Institutes in Mining and Architecture, the Regional Engineering Colleges, the Technical Teachers Training Institutes, other engineering colleges and polytechnics.
There has been an improvement in the overall admissions to the engineering colleges and polytechnics in the country. Against the actual admissions of 19,997 to engineering colleges and 36,675 to polytechnics in the year 1972-73, the actual admissions made in 1973- 74 were 21,199 and 41,333 respectively to engineering colleges and polytechnics. The out-turn of graduates and diploma holders in 1973- 74 was 16,342 and 13,848 respectively. The All India Council for Technical Education which advises the Central Government on all aspects of improvement and coordinated development of technical education in the country, had recommended that the original admission capacities in technical institutions reached in the year 1966-67 should be restored, in stages, after ensuring adequate instructional facilities in each institution and examining the employment prospects for engineers. A meaningful and comprehensive assessment of manpower requirements on a long-term basis as recommended by the AICTE has to be undertaken, after the 5th
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Plan has been finalised and also adequate indications of the size and scope of the 6th Plan are available. It has, therefore, been decided that, in the meanwhile, and for the next year or two, the actual admissions to technical institutions be regulated within the existing total sanctioned admission capacities and in accordance with the instructional facilities available in each institution. The level of admissions should be left flexible enough so that all eligible students are admitted within the existing sanctioned admission capacities.
Notwithstanding the measures taken during 1974-75 to contain the expenditure on various development programmes due to constraints on resources, the anticipated expenditure in the annual Plan would be of the order of Rs. 10.16 crores as against Rs. 9.8 crores provided for the programmes of technical education.
Consolidation of the existing facilities and reorganisation of degree and diploma courses with a view to improving the quality and standard of technical education continue to be the key-note of the activities in 1974-75. A number of programmes under the Quality Improvement Programme Scheme were conducted to improve the quality of teaching in the institutions by providing to the teachers facilities for higher qualifications or giving short-term courses in summer institutes or providing training in industry. These programmes were designed to improve the professional competence of serving teachers and to acquaint then with modem methods of teaching. Evaluation of these has pointed to a need for more Ph.D. degree programmes and a longer period of attachment in industry. Improvement of the teacher would continue to be the focus even in the 5th and subsequent Plans.
Efforts were continued in 1974-75 also to provide a new orientation to technical education facilities at all levels with an eye on the requirements of technical personnel, in terms of quality and training, for industries. The programmes in the area of post- graduate education and research continue to be improved in consultation with industry for training highly specialised technical personnel for research, development and design.
Many institutions have developed expertise for undertaking research and problem-solving capability related to the industry. To utilise the extensive infrastructure already created in technical institutions to the best advantage, to facilitate the rapid
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growth of industry and also to derive the benefit of the industry's collaboration for providing better training in the institutions, efforts were made to establish the closest links among technical institutions, industry and research institutions. For this purpose, industrial liaison centres were established in some of the institu- tions.
The Board of Post-Graduate Engineering Studies and Research which guides and oversees the coordinated development of post-graduate engineering education and research in the country, on the basis of a report submitted by the Task Force appointed to prepare a blueprint for development of post-graduate courses during the 5th Plan, has recommended that consolidation and proper development of courses already approved should be the first charge on the available resources. Proliferation of courses should be avoided. Additional courses may be sanctioned in those subject fields in which there is an established demand or in those subject fields which would be required in the future, after evaluating the competence of the concerned in- stitutions and other relevant factors.
Quality Improvement Programme The various schemes of Faculty and Curriculum Development under the Quality Improvement Programme continued in 1974-75.
Faculty Development In 1974-75, 177 teachers of Engineering Colleges joined the Courses leading to M. Tech. and Ph.D. Degree. The total number of teachers trained or being trained under the M. Tech. and Ph.D. programmes will now be 708.
Up to 1973-74, 1134 teachers of Engineering Colleges and 2886 from Polytechnics were benefited by the Short Courses in various specialised areas. In 1974-75, 14 Short Courses at the Degree level and 37 Courses at Diploma level have already been organised during the first six months of the year. During the remaining period of six months, 27 Courses at Degree and 60 Courses at Diploma level are proposed to be organised. The number of teachers trained under the Summer Schools Programme remained 1200-1400 this year also. Under the programme of training in Industry for serving teachers, 1624 teachers from Engineering Colleges and Ploytechnics have been trained so far.
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Curriculum Development The Curriculum Development Programme continued to be organised at 5 institutions at Diploma level and 6 institutions at Degree level.
The entire programme of Quality improvement has been reviewed in the light of the progress and performance achieved during the 4th Plan period and necessary modifications have been suggested in the scheme including further expansion during the 5th Plan period.
Post-graduate Courses and Research Work This scheme provides 100% Central assistance to selected State Government and Non-Government engineering colleges in the country to develop post-graduate courses for the advanced training of engineers and technologists. The assistance is for buildings, equipment, maintenance, staff and scholarships of Rs. 250/- per month per student to all the students and other expenditure for the development of post- graduate courses. 38 Government and Non-Govemment Engineering Colleges are covered by the Scheme with a total admission capacity of 1200 students per year for various post-graduate courses in engineering and technology.
Programme of Apprenticeship Training The Programme of Apprenticeship Training is aimed at providing an opportunity to Degree and Diploma holders passing out of Technical Institutions to acquire worthwhile practical experience in industry. Degree holders are given a stipend of Rs. 250/- P.M. and Diploma holders Rs. 150/- P.M. during the period of training which is normally of one year's duration. The training programme generally commences from September/ October every year. The selection is made purely on merit as reflected by the percentage of marks secured in the final qualifying examination.
Training facilities can be provided to about 10,000 candidates every year under the programme but due to paucity of funds during the year 1974-75, about 5,714 fresh trainees are expected to be paid stipends in addition to 3100 trainees selected during the year 1973-74 whose training will be, over in the current year. A Budget Provision of Rs. 121.00 lakhs (Rs. 81.00 lakhs Plan and Rs. 40.00 lakhs Non- Plan) has been made for the Scheme for 1974-75.
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The Apprentices Act, 1961 has since been amended to bring within its purview the training of Engineering Graduates and Diploma holders. The Apprentices (Amendment) Act, 1973 received the assent of the President on the 7th June, 1973. The Rules under the Apprentices (Amendment) Act, 1973 are being formulated by the Ministry of Labour in consultation with the Ministry of Education. The Amended Act will come into force from a date to be specified by the Government of India, Ministry of Labour.
Grants to non-Government scientific and technical institutions for
development and improvement Under this Scheme, grants-in-aid are sanctioned to nonGovernment Engineering and Technological Institutions towards their establishment and development at the first degree/diploma level and for various other schemes of technical education such as technical institutions for girls, Junior Technical schools etc. Private agencies sponsoring these institutions by themselves or in association with the State Governments concerned meet the nonCentral portion of the assessed costs. The Scheme is designed to develop and improve non-Government Technical Institutions by providing them with physical facilities by way of instructional buildings, workshops, equipment, library, furniture, staff etc. Under this Scheme over 100 institutions have been established/developed since the commencement of the Scheme during the First Plan period, in accordance with the pattern of central assistance laid down for the purpose.
A budget provision of Rs. 30.00 lakhs (Plan) exists for the Scheme for the year 1974-75.
Loan for construction of students' hostel in technical institutions
For provision of hostel facilities for students in technical Institutions, loans are sanctioned both for Government and non- Government technical institutions to the extent of 50% of the student population. To ease difficulties experienced by non-Government technical institutions in repayment of hostel loans, it has recently been decided that 50% of the loans already given should be written off and the balance 50% recovered in the remaining number of instalments. 90 non-Government Institutions have agreed to make use of this offer. It has also been decided that the balance of the approved loans should be given
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to these non-Government technical institutions in the form of 50% grant and 50% as loan recoverable in 25 annual instalments.
Before the commencement of the Fifth Five Year Plan 61,400 hostel seats had been provided. By the end of 1974-75, 875 additional seats will be made, available. The following budget provision has been made for the Scheme for the year 1974-75
Loan Grant Total
Rs. Rs. Rs.
For State Government 20.00 .. 20.00 Lakhs
Institutions Lakhs (Plan)
For Non-Government 7.50 7.50 15.00 Lakhs
Institutions Lakhs Lakhs (Plan)
INDIAN INSTITUTES, OF TECHNOLOGY The five Indian Institutes of Technology at Kharagpur, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur and Delhi conceived of as institutions, of advanced learning in the, fields of engineering and applied sciences with standards of education, training and research comparable to the very best in the world, are now poised for important changes. The Institutes which were reviewed by expert bodies, have been asked to undertake work in accordance with the following directions :
(1) They should restrict admission to under- graduate courses to the existing level of in-take. They would, however, be allowed to increase admission at the postgraduate and research levels to meet the requirements of industry and of Science and Technology Plan and for the technological needs of the country.
(2) Both the 3-year degree courses for science graduates and the 5-year degree courses be conducted in such a manner that selectivity of courses depends upon the infrastructural facilities available at the respective Institutes.
(3) While the Institute should freeze the admission to under-graduate courses as well as the total under- graduate population, there should be flexibility in the total intake of students among the various disciplines and various courses offered.
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(4) Highest priority be given to the establishment or augmentation of computing facilities as they form the basic tools of training and research in modern science and engineering.
(5) New teaching and training programmes be started in newer areas of national thrust for meeting the shortterm and long-term needs of the Indian Economy.
(6) Research programmes be oriented towards the identified areas in the Science and Technology Plan.
(7) Emphasis be placed on the establishment of a School of Inter-disciplinary research in areas of vital importance to the nation.
(8) Collaboration with Industry, Inter-action with other institutions, faculty development, training and placement should be carried out.
(9) The staff-students ratio should be 1 : 8 at the undergraduate level and I : 4 at the post-graduate level. There should be in future only 3 categories of teaching staff viz., Lecturers, Assistant Profressors and Professors.
(10) A senior faculty member should be encouraged to handle junior classes.
During the academic session 1974-75, two of the IITs (viz. at Madras and Delhi) were able to introduce Post-graduate diploma courses in (a) Production Engineering and (b) Aeronautical Engineering and Inter-disciplinary School of Bio-Engineering and Bio-Sciences, three Institutes propose to introduce the following new courses during 1975- 76 academic session
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (1) M. Tech in Industrial Management Systems Engineer- ing
(2) M. Tech in Integrated Circuits
(3) M. Tech in Refrigeration and Airconditioning
(4) M. Tech in Rock Mechanics
(5) M. Tech in Energy Systems
(6) Inter-disciplinary Schools of (1) Material Studies (2) General Systems Studies (3) Energy Studies (4) Engineering Design Studies (5) Laser Applications and (6) Industrial Cooperative Research Centre for Textile Technology.
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Indian Institute of Technology, Madras D.I.I.T. Courses in Television Engineering a one-year Post B.E. Course, designed to train personnel for research and development work in the area of television engineering with particular emphasis on the use of television systems aids in industry, in medical institutions and in education technology.
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay Post-Graduate Diploma Course in (1) Advance Aerial Photo Interpretation-Civil Engineering; (2) Aero Engine DesignAeronautical Engineering.
The Inter-disciplinary approach will be an important feature of post-graduate education. The research programmes include both basic and applied research and inter-disciplinary programmes like Bio- Engineering, Bio-Science, Bio-medical engineering, delineation and environmental pollution studies and control etc. Apart from the training of specialist engineers and technologists, the Institutes are engaged in research and development activities in areas which are of crucial importance to the industrial and economic development of the country. Some of the Institutes have undertaken industry-oriented programmes. Besides, sponsored research projects are in progress e.g. Switchgear group of laboratories of the Department of Electrical Engineering has been assisting numerous switch and fusegear manufacturers of the country in the indigenous design, testing, analysis and development of switches, contact and circuit breakers.
To strengthen the existing infrastructure for research and development, the Institutes at Delhi and Kanpur already have computer facilities. IIT Madras has acquired a modern computer from the Federal Republic of West Germany. IIT Bombay has since obtained a Soviet Computer and IIT Kharagpur has. recently offered a Soviet computer. The computing facilities will be available, not only to the staff and students but to all users from outside organisations- educational, research and industry.
The present Indo-German Agreement for assistance to IIT Madras has ended on November 30, 1974; the extension for further assistance mainly in exchange of Scientists, Joint Research, Equipment, Training of T.V. Engineering has been agreed to. To establish a Centre for Bio-Chemical Engineering Education, Training and Research at IIT Delhi, an understanding has been reached between the Government of Switzerland and the Government of India.
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