TECHNICAL EDUCATION
7.1.1 Technical education is one of the most significant components of human resource development spectrum with great potential for adding value to products and services, for contributing to the national economy, and for improving the quality of life of the people. In recognition of the importance of this sector, the successive Five Year Plans laid great emphasis on the development of technical education.
7.1.2 During the past four decades, there has been a phenomenal expansion of technical education facilities in the country. But, a lot still needs to be done in respect of increasing its coverage and enhancing its accessibility to the needs of the organised as well as the unorganised and rural sector and in improving its relevance to productivity. Moreover, the changing scenario by the turn of the century in socioeconomic, industrial and technological areas needs to be considered to enable the system to play its role with greater relevance and objectivity. Based on these considerations, several initiatives were taken to further revamp the technical education system. They include: modernisation and removal of obsolescence, promoting institution-industry interaction, providing continuing education for upgrading the skill and knowledge of technical personnel working in industry and service sectors, transfer of technology to the rural sector/ setting up of Technology Development Missions to meet the emerging challenges in Science and Technology.
7.1.3 Considerable progress has been made in implementing the various programmes and schemes. A major project has been undertaken with the assistance of the World Bank, to upgrade the technician education system in the country for enabling the polytechnics to improve their capacity, quality and efficiency. Vested with statutory authority the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) continue to fulfill the tasks assigned to it. The proposals to establish two new Indian Institutes of Management at Indore and Calicut and the Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management at Gwalior have been approved during 1995-96.
Indian Institutes of Technology 7.2.1 The five Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at Kharagpur,Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, and Delhi were set up in the country as Institutes of National Importance and premier centres of education and training in engineering and applied sciences at the undergraduate level and to provide adequate facilities for postgraduate studies and research.
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7.2.2 The IITs conduct four-year undergraduate programmes (Bachelors Degree) in various fields of engineering and technology. They also offer integrated Master's Degree courses of five years duration in physics, chemistry, mathematics, biochemical engineering & biotechnology. In addition, IITS offer M. Tech., degree courses in various specialisations and one year post graduate diploma courses in selected areas. The Institutes also offer Ph.D programmes in different branches of engineering sciences, humanities and social sciences. There are also advanced areas of training and research in each institute, in identified areas of specialization.
7.2.3 Over the years the IITs have succeeded in developing patents and their exploitation by the industry. The IITs have earned a sizeable revenue through sponsored research projects cons- ultancy works undertaken by their faculty members.
7.2.4 These institutes are the leaders in education, training and research for the development of technical manpower at levels comparable to the best in the world. Selection of the brightest students through JEE for entrance to undergraduate courses and the very high quality of training thereafter speak volumes of the IITs system, which is committed to the pursuit of excellence. The Institutes continued to modernise their laboratories with funds provided by the Government of India for the purpose.
7.2.5 A special preparatory course of 10 months duration continued to improve the intake of SC/ST students in the IITs. Those SC/ST students who fail to qualify the joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admission in the IIT's but score a certain minimum percentage of marks are offered admission to the preparatory course. At the end of the preparatory course, the students are subjected to a qualifying test on the basis of which they are offered admission to the B.Tech. Programme without having to appear in the JEE again. This has improved the position of intake of SC/ST students in the IITs. The SC/ST students also continued to get financial support from the Institutes by way of pocket allowance, loans and discretion grant, apart from free messing.
7.2.6 As per the Assam Accord, another UT has been set-up in Assam, the sixth in the chain of IITs. For declaring the IIT, Guwahati the sixth in the fraternity of IITs, as an Institute of National Importance, the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 was further amended and it came into force with effect from 1st September, 1994.
7.2.7 Academic programmes commenced from the academic year 1995-96 in three disciplines. namely Computer Science & Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering and Mechanical Engineering with a total intake of 65 students. During 1996-97, 75 students were admitted.
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Indian Institutes of Management 7.3.1 The four Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) located at Ahemedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta and Lucknow were set up by the Government of India with the objective of providing high quality management education through teaching, training, research and consultancy. These Institutions are the centres of excellece.
7.3.2 The three Institutes in Ahemedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta continued their usual academic programmes, viz Post- graduate Programme in Management (equivalent to M.B.A.), Fellowship programme (equivalent to Ph.D), Management Development Programme, Organisation Based Programme and Research & Consultancy for Industries.
7.3.3 The fourth Indian Institute of Management at Lucknow started functioning from 1985-86 session. This is still in a developing stage. 'The Institute is conducting Post-Graduate Programme, Management Development Programme and undertaking Research & Consultancy for Industries.
7.3.4 As a follow-up of National Policy on Education, these Institutes have established Research Centres to meet the needs of other non-corporate and under-managed sectors like Agriculture, Rural Development, Public Systems Management, Energy, Health Education, Habitat, etc. These Institutes have also set up computer-aided Management Centres with the objective of promoting the development and application of software in the area of industry- oriented management techniques.
7.3.5 Recently, the Government. has established two more Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs),one at Indore(Madhya Pradesh) and other at Calicut (Kerala). Academic activities will be started from the session 1997-98.
Revised Funding Pattern of Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian
Institutes of Management and Indian Institute of Science 7.3.6 A Revised Pattern of Funding has been implemented beginning with the financial year 1993-94. In terms of the scheme, the Non-Plan grant of the Institutions has been fixed at the level of grant in RE 1992-93 plus 10% thereof, and maintained at that level for the next four years (Till the end of 1996-97). The Institutions would be allowed to retain revenue receipts to augment the funds provided by the Govt. of India, as cushion against normal escalations over the four year period. The savings, out of the Non- Plan grants, and the revenue receipts will be retained and carried over by the Institutions. To encourage and accelerate the creation of an adequate level of Endowment Fund, the Government of India will provide 100% matching grant for savings out of the Non-Plan grant, revenue receipt and net earnings from consultancy and continuing education programmes. to the extent these are transferred to the Endowment Fund. For its continuance and
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implementation in the 9th Plan, the scheme has been reviewed by a Committee under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary.
7.3.7 A National Steering Committee constituted by the Planning Commission has been monitoring the overall progress of the. Scheme. Mission Management Boards chaired by the Director of the Lead Institute, coordinate the day-to-day activities of these missions.
7.3.8 These missions have earned wide acceptance of India Industry as is evident from the number of MOUs signed for development of various technologies/products by a number of Industries. The scheme is serving as a lead example to other professional Institutes.
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) 7.4.1 The AICTE set up in 1945 as an advisory body was given a statutory status through an Act of Parliament in 1987. The Act came into effect on March 28, 1988. The main functions of the AICTE includes proper planning and coordinated development of technical education in the country, qualitative improvement at all levels in relation to planned quantitative growth and regulations of the system and maintenance of norms and standards.
7.4.2 In order to streamline the system of approval of new courses and programmes the Council has issued regulations for establishment of new institutions/starting of new courses, etc.,
7.4.3 The Council has come to an understanding with the Council of Architecture( functioning under the Architects Act) and the Pharmacy Council of India(under the Pharmacy Act) in the procedure for assessment of courses and institutions in their respective fields.
7.4.4 The Council has laid down norms and standards for diploma, degree and post-graduate courses in various fields. In pursuance of Supreme Court judgments, the Council has issued regulations fixing norms and guidelines for charging tuition and other fees and providing guidelines for. admissions of students to professional colleges.
7.4.5 The AICTE has also issued Regulations for granting approval to technical institutions,courses and programmes in the fields of technical education.Under these Regulations approvals are given to private un-aided technical institutions also.
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7.4.6 To carry out the above statutory responsibilities the AICTE has taken numerous steps to operate different programmes and allied regulatory functions through Bureaux, namely, Coordination and Central Facilities, Recognition and Accreditation, Manpower Planning and Career Development. A number of statutory All India Boards have been set up for coordination and maintenance of standards in technical education. These are: All India Boards for Pharmaceutical Education, Architecture, Management, Vocational Education, Computer Science, Post Graduate Education & Research, Under Graduate Studies, and Town & Country Planning. In addition, the Council has further established Boards of Research (BOR) and Board of Industry Institute Interaction (BOII) for effective operation of quality programmes.
7.4.7 The Regional Committees at Kanpur, Madras, Bangalore, Bombay and Calcutta have been activated as a support system to AICTE. The new Regional Committees at Bhopal and Chandigarh have also been established. These Bureaux, Boards and Regional Committee facilitate the Council in planning, implementations, funding, monitoring and review its diverse range of programmes in technical education as per its statutory responsibilities. In order to ensure planned growth of technical education, the Council has a scheme to generate database to monitor supply and demand of engineering and technical manpower to ensure planned development of technical education.
7.4.8 Upto 31st December, 1995, the Council has approved 1029 polytechnics with an intake capacity of 1,66,456 consisting of 4080 courses for diploma and 416 engg./technology institutions with an intake capacity of 101451 consisting of 1919 courses for degree.
7.4.9 Besides, 352 colleges with an intake capacity of 18,310 consisting of 352 courses for diploma and 150 colleges with an intake capacity of 7,015 consisting of 150 courses for Degree in Pharmacy were approved. The figures of the approved institutions, courses and their intake capacity is not readily available in respect of management courses.
7.4.10 Some institutions/schemes administered by this Ministry were transferred to the Council w.e.f 1.4.1994. Out of them that the following schemes will now be handled by the Ministry directly :b
a) Technical Teachers Training Institutes (TTTIs)
b) National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai.
c) National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT), Ranchi.
d) School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi.
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c) Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET).
National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai
(NITIE) 7.4.11 NITIE was established as a National Institute in 1968 by the Govt. of India with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the International Labour Organisation (ILO). NITIE is an autonomus Organisation under the Ministry of Human Resource Development and is registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1967.
7.4.12 NITIE conducts short-term Courses in Industrial Engineering and allied fields, long-term courses in Industrial Engineering, Industry- oriented programmes to suit the specific needs of an industry/organisation, evolves syllabi, teaching material, norms and standards and gives help to other institutions engaged in teaching Industrial Engineering and allied subjects, carries out applied research, develops course material. adopts industrial engineering techniques to Indian requirements, collaborates with other institutions/organisations and professional bodies to promote industrial engineering and productivity techniques.
National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT),
Ranchi.7.4.13 National Institute of Foundry Forge Technology (NIFFT), Ranchi was established by the Govt. of India in collaboration with UNDP-UNESCO in 1966 with the objectives of organising teaching and training programmes, conduct Research and Development in the frontier areas pertaining of Foundry, Forge and related technologies and provide technological guidance and documentation services of Foundry, Forge and allied industries,
7.4.14 NIFFT Ranchi offers 1) M. Tech course in Foundry and Forge Technology, 2) 4-years Integrated Associateship course in Manufacturing Engg. equivalent to B Tech degree in Engineering, 3) Post-Graduate Diploma course in Manufacturing (4) Advanced Diploma Course in Foundry and Forge Technology of 18 months duration It also organises short-term refresher courses.
School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi.7.4.15 The School of Town and Country Planning was established by the Government of India in 1955 to provide for facilities in education and training in the field of rural, urban and regional planning. This School was renamed as 'School of Planning and Architecture' after Department of Architecture was included in 1959 to provide for facilities for education in the discipline of Architecture also. In 1979, the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi was conferred with the status of a Deemed University.
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7.4.16 The School has been imparting under- graduate programmes in architecture and planning disciplines and post-graduate programmes in all the disciplines offered by the School at under graduate levels. The School also organises short-term courses, seminars, workshops, special programmes, exhibitions. These are very popular and well attended by Senior/ Middle level officers as participants sponsored by the State/ Central Government departments, town planning organisations, development authorities, housing boards, public and private undertakings as well as institutions.
7.4.17 An Overseas Research and Development Centre has been established by the School to extend education and research facilities to other developing centres in Africa, SAARC and South Asia and to participate in cultural exchange programmes.
University Grants Commission Assistance to Technical Institutions
in the University Sector 7.4.18 The University Grants Commission (UGC provides financial assistance to university institutions in engineering and technology for their overall development. At present 32 such institutes are covered under the scheme. Besides offering facilities for under- graduate courses these institutes conduct post-graduate courses and research at higher levels in engineering and technology. Consolidation and development of teaching processes, infrastructural development and other professional activities are proposed to be taken up vigorously during the Eighth Plan and continued in the Ninth Five Year Plan period.
Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 7.5.1 The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok is an autonomous international Graduate Institute providing advanced education in Engineering, Science and allied fields. It enrolls about 600 students from more than twenty countries and has international faculty members. The Institute is governed by an international Board of Trustees, whose members come from different countries along with those from India.
7.5.2 The Government of India have agreed to provide assistance to the Asian Institute of Technology for :
i) Deputation of Teachers/Experts in specialised areas of Engineering/ Technology, meeting the entire cost of their deputation;
ii) Annual Grants upto Rs.3 lakhs for Purchase of equipment from India; purchase of books and payments for subscription on academic and technical journals published in India- and expenditure on academic related activities in India.
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Cultural Exchange Programme 7.6.0 Most of the Cultural Exchange Programmes include provision for exchange of materials in the field of science and technology as well as for exchange of visits of delegations for establishing academic linkages between institutions of Higher Education in the two countries and for finalising equivalence of degrees and diplomas awarded in India and other countries for the purpose of employment.
Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs) 7.7.1 Under the scheme of establishment of Regional Engineering Colleges, a Central Plan Scheme, seventeen Colleges have been established, one each in the major states, to meet the country's growing requirement for trained technical manpower for various development projects. Each college is a joint and cooperative enterprise of the Central Government and the State Government concerned. While all the seventeen colleges offer 1st Degree Courses in various branches of Engineering and Technology, fourteen of these have facilities for Post Graduate and Doctoral programmes.