RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
 COMMITTEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW
 

1. The Indian Institutes of Technology were established with the objective which is best described in the words of the late Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru-"to provide scientists and technologists of the highest calibre who would engage in research, design and development to help building the nation towards self- reliance in her technological needs". There is a more elaborate statement of objectives in the Sarkar Committee Report and in the statutory charter of the IITs. These are comprehensive and hold good even today though it may be necessary to re-emphasise some, to remove ambivalence in some others and to set the priorities more clearly to meet the changing needs. (Para 2.1)

2. The IITs were set up inspite of the recognition that some colleges of engineering had "attained a quality with age". IITs have completed nearly a quarter of a century of existence. This is the first time that a single common committee was appointed to review all the IITs together. They have acquired a degree of excellence in their facilities and faculty with the help of industrialised countries and as liberal a funding as was possible by the central government. The IITs have evolved an exclusive system of attracting good calibre students. They also evolved sound systems pertaining to courses of study and evaluation and oriented towards helping students to learn at their pace, choosing a load and picking electives with flexibility in the choice of subject. Their performance is evaluated not by chance achievements in a single examination but continuously through varied methods. (Para 2.1)

3 These measures have enabled the IITs to produce B.Tech. engineers of excellent quality comparable to the best in the world. (Para 2.2)

4 During the last decade, the IITs have also contributed to the upgradation of engineering education in the country. Considerable investment and effort has gone in to increase of research activities, developing some centres of advanced research to give technological leadership and diversifying and expanding post-graduate engineering education. (Para 2.2)

5 One cannot, however, overlook the fact that output from the IITs may not have been commensurate with the inputs and expectations. One can question the degree of impact of IITs on national, industrial, economic and social development, on their attaining excellence and leadership in research and education and in motivating the students and teachers to be pioneers and job-generators. Of late, there are indications that the undergraduate programmes themselves tend to be less flexible than originally envisaged. Experimental research and design and fabrication of sophisticated instruments are on the decline. IITs do not seem to be able to motivate the students and teachers sufficiently in regard to their commitment to the nation to give their best and to achieve excellence. (Para 2.3)

6. In fairness to the IITs, their performance audit should take into account the internal and external environmental factors, obsolescence in institutes set up two to three decades ago, and lack of coordinated manpower and technology policies posing challenges that hinder efficiency and productivity. (Para 2.4)