TECHNICAL EDUCATION
During the Fifth Five-Year Plan the, main programmes of the Government of India in the field of technical education are:
(1) Development of Postgraduate 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.
As in the previous year, all these programmes are carried out through the engineering education complex consisting of Institutes of Technology, University Departments of Engineering and Technology, the Institute of Management, the Specialised Institutes in Mining, Architecture, Industrial design and Forge and Foundry, the Regional Engineering Colleges, the Technical Teachers Training Institutes, Other Engineering Colleges and Polytechnics, including Women's Polytechnics. There has been a further improvement in the overall admissions to the engineering colleges and polytechnics in the country. Against the actual admission of 21,870 to engineering colleges and 43,984 to the polytechnics in the year 1974-75, the actual admissions made in 1975-76 were 22,691 and 45,000 respectively. The out-turn of graduates and diploma-holders was 14,019 and 18,000 respectively. On the advice of the All India Council for Technical Education the Central Government has requested the State Governments to restore the original admission capacity that was reached in the year 1966-67, wherever the demand justifies. Besides restoring admission to the normal branches of engineering, a number of diversified courses and electives in the existing courses are being introduced to meet the demand of the industry. During the year 1975- 76, the expenditure on various development programmes of technical education is anticipated to be of the order of Rs. 12.17 crores as against Rs. 10.75 crores provided for the programmes of technical education.
Consolidation and development of the existing facilities and reorganization of degree and diploma courses with a view to improving the quality and standard of technical education and to
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meet the, demand of industry by diversification of the courses con- tinue to be keynote of the activities in 1975-76. A number of programmes under the Quality Improvement Programmes Scheme was 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.
Efforts were continued in 1975-76 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 at the postgraduate, and research level continue to be improved in consultation with industry for training highly specialised technical personnel for research, development and design. The salary scales for teachers in engineering colleges have been revised to attract and retain compotent faculty for the colleges. The question of revision of salary scales for the teachers of polytechnics is under consideration.
If any well-established institutions have developed expertise for consultation and undertaking research and problem-solving capability related to the, industry of their area. Our institutions are also collaborating with RD & D Committees set up by the Department of Science and Technology in seventeen States to provide assistance and help the small scale industry in their respective areas.
20-Point Economic Programme Under the 20-Point Economic Programme, Book Banks are being established in engineering colleges and polytechnics. For this purpose, the All India Council for Technical Education has recommended that each technical institution should set up a Text-Book Library or Book Bank to help poor students who are unable to purchase books from their own resources. For this purpose a provision of Rs. 20,000/- for an engineering college and Rs. 10,000/- for a Polytechnic has been recommended. Necessary action in the establishment of Book Bank has been taken by most of the State Governments.
Under this Programme it has also been suggested that Cooperative Stores may be established in all institutions to provide stationery and exercise books etc. to the students at a cheaper rate. The State Governments were requested to establish Cooperative Stores for the purpose.
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The position in respect of Central institutions like I.I.T's etc. are :
(a) Book Bank.-Multiple copies of prescribed books for the several courses and more specially the costlier books are placed separately in the Library so that the concerned students can easily make use of these books in the ample place made available for reading in the same place. The number of such books is increased year by year according to needs. Books are also loaned out from these collection to the students. Specially for SC/ST students books are loaned out to them for the duration of the course.
(b) Supply of stationery at controlled rates.-Arrangements have been made to enable the students to get stationery items at reasonable rates.
(c) Control of mess charges etc.-A concerted effort is being made to keep down the common expenditure by proper and optimal utilization of the services of staff in the messes. Besides, wastage of materials is kept minimum, if not almost eliminated.
(d) Welfare measures for SC/ST students.-Special coaching, classes have been provided to all new entrants belonging to SC/ST. In addition to 20% reservation for SC/ST students (15 % for Scheduled Castes and 5 % for Scheduled Tribes), they are being given free tuition, free hostel room and scholarship of Rs. 150/- per month for undergraduate courses in IITs and IISc, Bangalore.
International Women's Year This year being International Women's Year, special efforts were made in the field of technical education to provide facilities to women teachers of technical institutions. Special short-term courses were organised for the women teachers of Women's Polytechnics at Technical Teacher's Training Institutes. Further, seats were specially reserved at M. Tech. and Ph.D. levels at the five Indian Institutes of Technology for women teachers.
Quality Improvement Programme The following various schemes of faculty and curriculum development under Quality Improvement Programme continued in 1975-76.
Faculty development In 1975-76, 155 teachers of engineering colleges joined courses leading to M.Tech. and Ph.D. degrees. The total number of
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teachers trained or being trained under these programme will now be 863.
Up to 1974-75, 6032 teachers of engineering colleges and polytechnics were benefitted by the short courses in various specialised areas. In 1975-76, 53 short courses at degree and diploma level have already been organised during the first 6 months of the year. The number of teachers trained under the Summer Schools Programme remained 1200 to 1400 this year also. Under the programme of Training in Industry for serving teachers, 1893 teachers from engineering colleges and polytechnics have been trained so far.
Curriculum development The Curriculum Development Programme continued to be organised at 5 instititutions 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 Fourth Plan period and necessary modifications are being suggested in the scheme including further expansion during the Fifth Plan period.
Postgraduate courses and Research work This scheme provided 100% Central assistance to selected Government and Non-Government engineering colleges in the country to develop postgraduate courses for the advanced training of engineers and technologists. The assistance is provided for building, equipment, maintenance, staff and scholarships to the students. The value of the scholarship has been increased from Rs. 250/-p.m. per student to Rs. 400/- p.m. with effect from 1-7-1974. At present 39 Government and Non-Government engineering colleges are covered by this scheme with a total intake capacity of 1200 students per year for various courses.
All the institutions conducting Postgraduate courses in Engi- neering and Technology have also been asked to reserve 5% scats for admitting Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates to Post- graduate courses in Engineering and Technology.
Programme of Apprenticeship Training The Apprentices Act, 1961, provides for the regulation and control of training of apprentices in trade and for matters connected therewith. Earlier the training of graduate engineers and diploma holders was being arranged by the Ministry of Education under Voluntary Scheme known as "Programme of Apprenticeship
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Training". The object of the scheme, is to impart practical training facilities to, unemployed engineers and diploma holders in order to condition them for gainful employment in the industry. The Apprentices Act 1961 was amended by Apprentices (Amendment) Act., 1973 to provide statutory backing for the training of Engineering Graduates and Diploma holders.
The training programme in each region is looked after by the Directors, Board of Apprenticeship Training located at Kanpur, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. The Boards are autonomous organizations and fully financed by the Central Government. The Apprentices (Amendment) Act., 1973 came into force from 1-12-74 and rules under the Act were notified by the Ministry of Labour on 21-7-75 when their Directors/Training Officers were designated as authorities under the Act.
The Amended Act provides that the cost of stipend shall be borne by the Central Government and the employer in equal shares up to such limits as may be laid down by the Central Government and beyond that limit by the employer alone as against the entire cost of stipend being borne by the Central Government under the voluntary scheme. The minimum stipend to be paid under the Act is:-
i. Graduate Apprentices : Rs. 280/- p.m.
ii. Technician
Apprentices : Rs. 180/- p. m.
iii. Sandwich Course
Graduate Apprentices : Rs. 180/- p. m.
iv. Sandwich Course
Technician Apprentices : Rs. 150/- p. m.
The Apprenticeship Rules framed under the Act also provide for reservation of training places for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The Programme of Apprenticeship Training has acquired special importance in view of the Prime Minister's Directive of 1st July, 1975 regarding 20-Point Economic Programme.
The Ministry expects to engage approximately 10,000 fresh trainees during the current financial year.
Management Education In order to meet the increasing demand of managerial personnel in the country, additional centres for the introduction of 2-year full- time degree courses in Management have been approved
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at Gauhati University, Assam, and South Gujarat University, Surat, with an annual intake of 30 students.
In view of the special circumstances of a State like Gujarat which is industrially advanced and, therefore, could sustain more than one centre for the full-time M.B.A. course, the proposal of the Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, for financial assistance, to start a 2- year full-time M.B.A. course has also been accepted subject to the availability of funds.
A number of other proposals from State Governments, Universities and institutions for organising Management training programmes are under active consideration of the Government.
Model Bill for the States for setting up of a Board of Technical
Education The All India Council for Technical Education decided that a Model Bill should be prepared to enable the State Governments/Union Territories to set up Boards of Technical Education as a Statutory Body for coordinated development of Polytechnic Education and improvement of the quality and standard of Diploma Course in each State.
The Model Bill has since been prepared by this Ministry on the advice of the All India Council for Technical Education and in consultation with the Ministry of Law and has been sent to all the State Governments/Union Territories for adoption. The Bill when enacted by the State Governments will, no doubt, go a long way for development of Polytechnic Education in the country as a whole.
Assessment Board A Board of Assessment for educational qualifications has been set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare under the Chairmanship of Dr. A. R. Kidwai, Chairman, Union Public Service Commission to consider the recognition of degrees/diplomas awarded by Indian and Foreign Universities/ Higher Educational Institutions and private bodies in the field of Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences for the purpose of employment under the Central Government. The Board will also examine the proposals for the mutual recognition of degrees/ diplomas between the Government of India and foreign countries.
Three protocols concerning equivalence of certificates, degrees and diplomas awarded by secondary schools, universities and other educational and scientific organisations and institutions has been signed between the Republic of India and Peoples Republic
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of Hulgaria, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and German Democratic Republic on 15th January, 1975, 17th October, 1975 and 19th March, 1976 respectively.
Steps are afoot to sign similar protocol with Hungary and Yugoslavia.
Grants to non government scientific and technical institutions for
development and improvement Under this scheme grants-in-aid are sanctioned to non-Government Engineering and Technological Institutions for their establishment and development at 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 non Central 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. Grants over Rs. 10 crores have been paid to the Institutions from the 1st Plan period.
Loans for construction of students' hostels in technical institu-
tions. 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 students population. Loans amounting to Rs. 19.38 crores have been sanctioned for the construction of hostels. The non-Government institutions represented that the income from hostel fees was too inadequate to repay the loan instalments and the loanees had no other resources to pay off the loan instalments. To ease difficulties experienced by non-Government technical institutions in repayment of hostel loans, it was decided in 1973 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 balance of the approved loans would be given to these non-Government technical institutions in the form of 50% grant and 50% as loan recoverable in 25 annual instalments.
Up to the year 1974-75, 62070 hostel seats had been provided through these loans. By the end of 1975-76, 650 additional hostel seats will be made available.
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THE INDIAN INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY The Indian Institutes of Technology at Kharagpur, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur and New Delhi have made significant contribution in promoting technological education and research. Apart from the training of scientists, engineers and technologists these institutes are engaged in research and development activities in areas which are of crucial importance to industrial and economic development. To strengthen the existing infrastructure for research and development the institutes at Madras, Khargpur and Bombay are equipped with modern computer system.
The total student enrolment and out-turn of graduates from these institutes are given below:-
Indian Institute Under Post Total Out-turn
of Technology graduate graduate of
at and graduates
research
Kharagpur . . 1662 969 2631 601
Bombay . . 1295 751 2046 471
Madras . . 1269 907 2176 591
Kanpur . . 1208 950 2158 501
New Delhi . . 1145 894 2029 394
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur During the academic session 1975-76 the Indian Institute of Technology at Kharagpur has been able to introduce four 2-year M.Tech. courses in (1) Aero Engineering (2) Agriculture Engineering specialising in Dairy and Food Engineering (3) Chemical Engineering specialising in control and automation engineering and (4) Electronics and Electric Communication Enginnering specialising in computer Engineering.
The Chemistry Department of the Institute has published '30 papers and Department of Electronics and Electric Communication Engineering has published/communicated 20 papers. The institute has undertaken major consultancy programme during the year 1975 viz. Agrico, Jamshedpur for their disk testing and (2) West Bengal State Planning Board for organising design and development programmes of agricultural machines.
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay During the year 1975-76 the Institute has started the following two Postgraduate Diploma Courses in Civil and Aeronautical Engineering respectively:
(1) Advanced Aerial Photo interpretation
(2) Aero Engine Design
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All postgraduate courses have been brought under semester/credit system from the current session.
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras The Indian Institute of Technology at Madras continued to offer the five year B.Tech. Degree Programme in the six grades of specialisation namely, Aeronautical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical (including Electronics), Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgy. The Department of Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics continued to offer the two year M.sc. Degree programme.
The Institute commenced during the year, a new one year postgraduate Diploma (DIIT) course in 'industrial tribology'. This was in addition to four other courses already in operation, namely Building Technology, Coastal Engineering, Production Engineering and Aircraft Production. The Institute plans to offer, on a part-time basis, using the facilities of its city-office,a series of programmes for participants from industry, to enable them fulfil the prescribed academic requirements and qualify for the DIIT award.
The year under review is noteworthy for the initiation of advanced study, research and development work in the following interdisciplinary areas:
1. Energy
2. Composite Structure (Fibre-reinforced Plastics): and
3. Materials Science and Technology.
In order to foster industry oriented and collaborative research, the scheme of external registration of scientists and engineers in industries and national laboratories for research programmes leading to M.S. and Ph.D. are intensified.
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Both from the point of view of physical resources, intellectual capital and willingness to participate in national and development work, the Institute has reached a stage of considerable strength and maturity. Apart from the intensive work on the basic educational, research and development programmes of the, ten departments, the Institute has contemplated intensive work in (i) Materials Science Programme, (ii) Educational Development Programme and (iii) Computer Centre, involving several departments in the Institute. Interaction with industry sponsored projects work in the Institute are substantial and are growing in their dimensions.
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Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi The Department of Chemical Engineering revised and brought uptodate its M.Tech. programmes in Chemical Engineering. A new stream, process Dynamics and Control, is being introduced at the post- graduate level. Electrical Engineering Department introduced a new M.Tech. course in Computer Technology with emphasis on hardware aspects of digital computers. Research programmes were actively pursued in all departments of the Institute. A total of 448 research projects were in progress some of which were completed.
INDIAN INSTITUTES OF MANAGEMENT
Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta The Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, has the post- graduate programme where admission varies from 100 to 124 per year. In addition to this, there are Fellowship Programmes at the doctorate level, Executive Development Programmes for public sector and private sector industrial organisations, Extension Programmes in functional areas at various centres. A good number of students of the institution are placed in permanent employment in public sector undertakings also.
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad continues to provide opportunities for training in management and for improvement of management practices. The two-year Post graduate Programme in Management for the first time admitted a total of 171 students during this academic year. This programme is the largest of its kind in Asia and it provides a specialised package of courses in agricultural management in addition to the conventional categories of functionally oriented courses. In order to minimise the deficiencies of weaker students in English and Mathematics, a special remedial programme was organised for them in the campus prior to the commencement of the academic year.
In addition to the postgraduate, programmes in Management, the Institute conducts Fellowship Programme (at the doctoral level). The Institute also undertakes many functional programmes in different areas of Management for executive development as required by the industry and has special sectoral programmes in areas like Agriculture, Rural Development, Economic and Business Forecasting, etc. The Institute has collaborative/consultative contacts with a large number of industries both in the private and public sector.
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Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore was established in 1972 and continues its progress in its five objectives-first to provide professional training in management and related subjects to persons from industry, and institutions and associations connected with industry and commerce and individuals to enable them to practise competently the profession of management and to, instruct others in the practise of management; second to select and prepare a cadre of young persons for careers in management; third, to meet the needs of industry and commerce in respect of uptodate information on management through research and publication of management literature; fourth, to provide research and consultancy services to industry and government agencies with a view to improving administration and productivity and fifth to cooperate with educational or other institutions in any part of the world having similar objectives for mutual benefit in the field of management education. The Institute admitted the second batch of Post Graduate students in September, 1975.
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore The total student strength of the Institute at any time is around 1,100 and the annual intake is about 400. The out-turn of students who complete all the requirements and quality for the awards each year on an average is as follows:-
Ph.D./M.Sc. (By research) 75
M.E./M.Tech. 160
B.E. 70
Diploma 30
The Institute has been able to introduce three new courses during the year under review:-
1. A one-year post-graduate diploma course in Electro- nics design technology.
2. A collaborative programme between the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Indian Institute of Science, as a Centre for Application of Mathematics.
3. The emphasis of activities at the Institute has been programmed at 3 levels of education i.e. (i) as a centre for learning and research in branches of science and technology which are increasingly inter-penetrative and inter-disciplinary to ensure growth of
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scientific man-power at the higher levels for the coun- try, (ii) as a centre for Continuing Education for intellectual renewal and rejuvenation for those already active in research, industry and education. Appropriate Committees have been constituted to directionalize the activities of industrial consultancy as also the continuing Education Programme at the Institute.
Over 500 research publications are brought out incorporating the research and development activities at the Institute. They are published in both national and international periodicals of professional repute.
Regional Engineering Colleges The fourteen Regional Engineering Colleges established in various States are making satisfactory progress with the programmes of consolidation and further development in engineering education. AR these colleges are offering first degree courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Some are also offering courses in Architecture, Metallurgy, Electronics and Chemical Engineering. Ten of these colleges have entered the second phase of their development with the introduction of postgraduate courses. Of these nine are conducting industry oriented post-graduate courses in specialised fields like design and production of high pressure boilers and accessories, heavy machines for steel plants, transportation engineering, industrial and marine structure, electronic instrumentation, integrated power systems etc. The fifteenth college proposed to be established in Assam is expected to start functioning during the Fifth Five Year Plan Period.
The Review Committee which was appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Planning Commission to review the present progress of the Regional Engineering Colleges and to suggest the lines along which they should be consolidated and further developed, submitted its Report in February, 1974. The Review Committee Report was considered by the All India Council for Technical Education in May 1974 and the Council generally endorsed the recommendations made by the Review Committee. The Chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education has approved the recommendations of Development Committee set up to consider the proposals made by the Regional Engineering Colleges in the light of the Review Committee Report and to suggest measures for their improvement and development in the context of the needs of the country and the capacity of the individual colleges taking into consideration
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the facilities that are already avialable in the respective colleges The Development Committee has also recommended additional grants for modernization and replacement of obsolete equipment in the college laboratories, additional grant for improvement of college libraries and provision of some students amenities on the campus of the colleges. The recommendations are under consideration of the Government of India.
Technical Teachers Training institute It was reported last year that a High Power Committee of experts under the Chairmanship of Dr. P. K. Kelkar, ex-Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay had been set up to review the progress of these institutes with reference to their objectives and suggest future course of development. The Committee has completed the visits of 4 Institutes at Madras,. Chandigarh, Calcutta and Bhopal and is currently busy in drafting its report.
It has been decided to accept the proposal of Royal Netherlands Government for extension of technical assistance programme and in that connection assignment of Mr. B. Mone, Netherlands expert to the TTI Chandigarh to carry out an evaluation study of the Institute's achievement. The earlier agreement providing assistance to Chandigarh Institute ended on 31-8-1974.
These Institutes continued to conduct regular courses for Polytechnic teachers and also conducted various short-term courses under the Q.I.P. Scheme.
The Calcutta Institute conducted a seminar on "Women for the World of Work" for Women in different walks of life. The Madras Institute conducted a programme of short courses for, lady teachers of Technical Institutes in Southern Region on "Special needs of adolescent girls and suitable methods for teaching them". The Bhopal Institute conducted a 2-week programme for Women teachers in Western Region on the subject of Educational Technology and new Evaluation Techniques. These programmes were arranged as a part of celebrating International Women's Year.
The Bhopal Institute has shifted to its new buildings constructed for the purpose.
The teacher trainees are being provided subsidised hostel accommodation and essential commodities/stationery at subsi- dised/controlled rates at some of these Institutes.
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Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad The School continues its existing programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level in Mining Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Applied Geology and 'Applied Geophysics. In addition the School has been able to introduce, two more new courses. One is the 2-year industry oriented M.Tech. Programme in Opencast Mining, designed to training personnel for middle and higher level management positions in opencast mine. To support this programme, M/s TISCO have sponsored a Chair on Opencast Mining at the School for a 3 year period. The second new course started during the year is a 3-year part-time M.Tech. course in Mining Machinery. Both these courses have been started to meet the intensified needs of the mining industry and cut entirely fresh ground in the field of mining education in the country. A new Department of Industrial Engineering and Management has also been started with funds provided by BCCL and H. S. L. chavi in management. The student enrolment and out turn of graduates from the school is as below:-
Under Graduate Post Total Out-turn of
Graduate Graduates
387 77 464 43