PREFACE
 

The duty and privilege of presenting this Report has fallen to my sad lot after the sudden and tragic death of the Chairman of our Committee, Dr. Y Nayudamma, in the Kanishka air crash. The schedule of work was further upset by the change of assignment of some of the Committee members, including myself But the tentative recommendations of the Committee were made available to the government some time ago when it became clear that the preparation of the full report would take time and that the Government would find it useful to have the gist of our findings in the context of the Seventh Plan exercises and the formulation of the New Education Policy. In the main, our conclusions were guided by the experience and vision of Dr. Nayudamma whilst he was still with us. All the members of the Committee and I consider this report as a small homage to Dr Nayudamma in many ways.

Looking back on the 25 years' working of the IITs it can be said without any reservation that they amply fulfilled the specific goals set for them by bringing to life five national institutes of advanced technological learning of international standards and producing over 27,000 high-grade engineers who have not only strengthened our own industrial base but also earned appreciation elsewhere. The IITs, however, cannot afford to rest on their laurels. That the expectations from these institutes of excellence are high, was evident from the concern expressed by an segments of the community who met the Committee- the Industry, the Government, the Alumni, the Students, the Faculty and many others.

Over these years there have been continuous and significant changes in the realm of science and technology as well as in the economic scene- internationally and nationally. More is to come and at a faster rate. The IITs have to set their sights to new targets. We could not but help notice several mismatches developing during this period, between the IITs and their environment which need to be corrected in the coming years.

First, the demand from the industry for engineer-scientist- if one may so distinguish the products from the IIT system-was less than that for the conventional engineer-managers. This has resulted in two inter- related distortions, namely, the efflux of IIT graduates abroad and the relative unattractiveness of the post-graduate programmes for the top decile of the IIT graduates. This situation will change as Indian industry is compelled to enhance its design and development capabilities in order to become internationally competitive according to the national policy demands. A strong link must be forged between the industry and the IITs on one hand and the IITs and the scientific institutions on the other, immediately.

Second, despite the general expectation that all national institutions will contribute specifically to the development of our predominantly rural economy, an ambivalent attitude seems to persist in the IITs in this regard, based perhaps on the commonly held belief that technology was relevant only to large-scale manufacturing industry. Whilst this may be true in the case of developed countries where industry has the dominant share in the national income and the basic necessities are available to the entire population, our situation is substantially different. It is clear that given the right orientation, high technology not only can but must contribute to improving living conditions, to making traditional vocations more efficient and to imparting knowledge, in our countryside.

Lastly, there was the natural problem of ageing-obsolescence of equipment and facilities, obsolete administrative practices and more importantly the threat of falling behind in knowledge and losing in organisational vitality.

Our suggestions are based on these perceptions and intended to enable the IITs fulfil their potential role in the more dynamic and innovative stage of economic development India is destined to enter by the turn of the century. The recommendations cover both academia and the governance of these institutions. Except for the problem of funding and a few amendments to the Act which concern the government most of the changes are within the competence of the Boards of the IITs and their Senates. If this Review reinforces the introspective process in the IITs leading to the desired direction of change it will have served its purpose largely. The IITs have a future brighter than their past and we are confident that they will so shape it.

In Chapter 8 we have acknowledged the support we received from various individuals and institutions which made this Review possible. It remains for me to acknowledge the contribution of my learned colleagues in the Committee, specially the enormous work put in by our Member-Secretary Shri S. Vedantham of the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

31st December 1986 HITEN BHAYA (Vice-Chairman)