TECHNICAL EDUCATION
The Socio-economic progress of a country is intimately connected with the expansion and quality of technical education facilities in the country and hence, technical education has been receiving high priority in our planning process since attainment of independence. The facilities for engineering and technological education and training have been expanded and diversified systematically through the different Five Year Plans to meet our needs both on short-term and long-term basis. In the Sixth Plan, major emphasis has been on (a) optimum utilisation of existing facilities, (b) consolidation, (c) expansion of facilities in areas where weakness exists, (d) creation of infra- structure in areas of emerging technologies vital for the national develop- ment, (e) improvement of quality and standards of education and (f) further- ance of national efforts to develop and apply science and technology as an instrument of country's socioeconomic progress.
The draft Seventh Five Year Plan of Technical Education is now ready. In the Seventh Plan, it is proposed to continue the important work on consolida- tion and modernisation, assessment of technical manpower, strengthening the areas of weakness and merging technologies and to introduce new programmes for improving technicians' education and setting up Polytech- nics for girls' removal of obsolescence and regional imbalances, develop- ment of appropriate technology for rural upliftment and further improve- ment on quality of education and training.
Activities under the approved schemes and in the Central Institutions in the year under report are given below.
Quality improvement Programme The programme of Quality Improvement was initiated in the year 1970-
71 with a view to improving the quality and standards of technical education
imparted in the various technical institutions in the country. Under the
scheme, the following programmes are conducted:
(i) Faculty Development
(a) Two-Year M.Tech. Programme;
Three-Year Doctoral Programme;
(b) Short-term courses at Quality Improvement Programme
Centre;
(c) Summer Institute Programmes through Indian Society for
Technical Education;
(ii) Curriculum Development which includes preparation of instructional
material, textbooks and laboratory development; and
(iii) Practical Training in industrial organisations to the teachers of
engineering colleges and polytechnics.
M. Tech. and Doctoral Programmes are implemented at the 5 Indian Insti-
tutes of Technology, University of Roorkee, Indian Institute of Science,
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Bangalore, Banaras Hindu University, a few Regional Engineering Colleges, College of Engineering, Guindy and Jadavpur University. The programme relating to short-term courses is implemented through above selected centres for the degree level teachers and the four Technical Teachers' Train- ing Institutes and Institute of Engineering and Rural Technology, Allahabad for the teachers of diploma level institutions. The programme of short-term training in industry is organised by the Regional Offices of the Ministry and Summer/Winter Schools are organised by the Indian Society for Technical Education.
Till the year 1983-84,850 teachers were trained for M.Tech. courses and 900 teachers for Ph.D. programme. Similarly 600 short-term courses were organised by the QIP Centres at the degree level in which 9000 teachers par- ticipated and 1100 courses were organised at the diploma level in which 20,000 teachers participated. Under short-term programmes in industry, 1725 teachers at the degree level and 3900 at diploma level had been bene- fitted till the year 1983-84. Besides, nearly 1000 summer/winter schools were organised by Indian Society for Technical Education, where 19,000 teachers participated.
The scheme continued during the year 1984-85. The target during the year under report was to train 90 such teachers for M.Tech. and 115 for Ph.D. in addition to those continuing from the previous years. In summer school programmes, 1600 teachers were expected to be benefitted. Curriculum Development Programmes were conducted as in the past by the 14 groups at QIP Centres. About 1500 degree and diploma holder teachers were expected to be trained in the industrial organisations under the programme relating to short-term training in industry.
National Manpower The scheme was instituted in the year 1983-84 with the main objective of
Information System providing upto-date, meaningful manpower information on a continuing
basis to enable the concerned educational authorities to anticipate the areas
of growth in the field of engineering and technology and plan on a systematic
basis to meet the technical manpower requirements in the country. The sys-
tem comprises a Lead-centre in the Institute of Applied Manpower Research
and 17 nodal centres at the selected engineering colleges and technological
institutions. The system will provide for efficient mechanism for collection,
storage, updating, retrieval and analysis of the manpower information/data
to formulate the necessary development plans to meet the national require-
ments. The system has already made a good beginning in the year under
report and it is hoped that it shall become fully operational by the end of the
next year.
Advanced Technician Courses The scheme was started in the year 1981-82 with the main objective of
providing avenues for advancement to diploma holders. Under the scheme,
higher courses of studies at advanced level are provided to enable the techni-
cians possessing diplomas in various branches of engineering and techno-
logy to advance professionally in their respective lines. During the year
under report, first batch of students passed out and the feedback has been
encouraging. The scheme is at present being implemented at the under-
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mentioned four institutions but in view of the encouraging reports, it is pro- posed to further expand the scheme during the Seventh Plan period:
1) YMCA Institute of Engineering, Faridabad.
2) CM Kothari Technological Institute, Madras.
3) Shri Bhagubai Mafatlal Polytechnic, Bombay.
4) Institute of Engineering & Rural Technology, Allahabad.
Centres for Development Under the scheme of Direct Central Assistance, Centres for Development
of Rural Technology of Rural Technology (CDRTs) are being established at various diploma level
technical institutions since the year 1980-81. It is proposed ultimately to
establish one such centre in each State. At present, 11 centres of this type
have been established at different polytechnics in the country. During the
year under report, 1 Centre was established. The Centres established in the
previous years were continued and necessary grants in accordance with the
prescribed norms were given to these centres to modify, adopt and manufac-
ture technologies relevant to rural needs.
Community Polytechnics The Scheme was instituted under the Central sector in the year 1978-79,
under which 36 polytechnics were selected to serve as community polytech-
nics. In addition to offering diploma courses in various branches of engineer-
ing and technology, these polytechnics are required to interact with environ-
ments and serve as focal points to promote transfer of technology to the rural
sector. The activities undertaken by these polytechnics include imparting of
skilled training to the rural unemployed, providing technical services to the
rural people, installation and maintenance of relevant items of appropriate
technology already developed and adopted, establishment of information
and demonstration centres and undertaking experimental model projects for
total development. The scheme continued in the year under report and
necessary central assistance was provided to the various community poly-
technics to carry on their activities adequately. in the year 1983-84, grants
amounting to Rs. 22.57 lakhs were released to the various community poly-
technics for implementing the scheme.
Community Polytechnics for In order to cater to the specific requirements of the minority communities,
Minority Communities the scheme of community polytechnics was extended and 10 additional poly-
technics were selected to serve as community polytechnics for the purpose.
Under the scheme, extension centres of these polytechnics are specially set
up in the minority concentrated areas/mohallas to ensure that the benefit of
this special provision reaches the minority communities adequately. Grants
amounting to Rs. 25 lakhs have been released to these 10 additional com-
munity polytechnics to serve the interest of the minority communities.
Development of During the year under report, 4 engineering colleges and 4 polytechnics
New Institutions have been started in the various States in the country with the approval of the
Minister of State for Education who is also Chairman, All India Council for
Technical Education. The approval has been given keeping in view the
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guidelines laid down by the All India Council for Technical Education for
establishment of new technical institutions for introduction of new courses
and care has been taken to see that wherever possible the regional imba-
lances are removed with the establishment of the new institutions.
Technical Teachers' The four Technical Teachers' Training Institutes at Madras, Calcutta,
Training Institutes Bhopal and Chandigarh were established in the year 1966-67, to provide in-
service training to polytechnic teachers and also to undertake various activi-
ties for the improvement of polytechnic education. Besides the long-term
training extending over a period of 18 months, these institutes have also
been providing short-term training to the teachers in addition to involving
themselves in curriculum development and other related activities. During
the year under report, these institutes have intensified their activities and in
order to make greater impact on the actual situations obtaining in the com-
munity polytechnics organised their activities in more pointed and scientific
manner in 5 distinct areas including (a) long-term and short-term training, (b)
extension services to cater to the requirements of the individual States and
the polytechnics, (c) development of resource material including curriculum
development, educational technology, TV, Computer etc., (d) Research and
development for promoting innovations and (e) Consultancy including pro-
ject formulation to meet specific requirements of individual States and poly-
tecnics. With the continuation of the tempo generated in the year under
report, it is hoped that the States will be able to make a significant impact in
the coming years in making radical improvements in the standard and qual-
ity of polytechnic education.
Besides the normal activities, these institutes are also undertaking diverse
activities under the UNDP Project. Some of the activities started under the
project like film production, national testing services, instructional package
etc. have shown very good results during the year under report.
Direct Central Assistance The scheme was started in the year 1976-77 to extend Central Assistance
on 100% basis to the selected engineering colleges and polytechnics for
identified projects relevant and important for improvement of quality and
standards of technical education. The scheme continued during the year
under report. The National Expert Committee set up to select technical insti-
tutions both at the degree and diploma levels and the area suitable for assis-
tance under the scheme selected 12 engineering colleges and 37 polytech-
nics for grant of assistance.
Institutional Network Scheme Institutional Network Scheme which was introduced in 1981-82 conti-
nued with vigour during 1984-85. Collaboration between the Indian Insti-
tutes of Technology and Regional Engineering Colleges continued in the
areas of Laboratory Development and Faculty Exchange programme. In
addition to Regional Engineering Colleges, financial assistance was also
extended to State Engineering Colleges, private autonomous Engineering
Colleges as are identified by the National Expert Committee. During the
Sixth Plan period, the grant-in-aid released for upgradation of laboratories
are as under:-
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Financial Year No. of Amount released
laboratories (in lakhs of rupees)
1981-82 25 62.50
1982-83 32 80.00
1983-84 20 50.00
During 1984-85, there is a budget provision of Rs. 70.00 lakhs which will
be utilised in full before the end of financial year.
Expansion of Facilities in The Scheme was instituted in 1981-82 to strengthen and expand facilities
Areas where Weakness exists in the areas where weakness existed. The primary object of the scheme was
to improve the areas of Computer Science, Electronics, Maintenance Engi-
neering Instrumentation, Product, Development and Bio-Sciences and
Management Sciences etc. by providing direct central grant on 100% basis.
The details of grant-in-aid extended to Regional Engineering/Technological
Universities and State/Private Engineering Colleges are as under:-
Financial Year No. of Amount released
projects (in lakhs of rupees)
1981-82 5 85.00
1982-83 29 285.00
1983-84 30 238.00
There is a budget provision of Rs. 500 lakhs in 1984-85, which is likely to
be utilised in full before close of financial year.
Grants amounting to Rs. 114.40 lakhs have already been sanctioned to
institutions till December, 1984.
Creation of Infrastructure in The Scheme, which was introduced in 1981-82, continued in the current
Areas of Emerging Technology year 1984-85 also. Under this scheme, grant in-aid on 100% basis is extend-
ed to create and develop facilities for research and education and training in
the areas of new emerging technology important for the development and
advancement of the country. These include Microprocessor application,
Remote Sensing Laser Technology, Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental
Engineering, Energy Sciences, and water Resources Management. The
strengthening and creation of facilities in these areas would be of immense
help in accelerating the pace of development in the country. The details of
grant-in-aid to the institutions including Indian Institutes of Technology, Regi-
onal Engineering Colleges and other Technological Institutions are as
under:-
Financial Year No. Of Amount released
Institutions (in lakhs of rupees)
1981-82 9 115.00
1982-83 33 384.50
1983-84 29 350.00
During 1984-85, there is a budget provision of Rs. 500 lakhs which is
likely to be spent in full before the end of financial year. Till December 1984,