ALL INDIA COUNCIL FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION

29.1 The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was set up in 1945 as a national expert body to advise the Central Government and the State Governments on the development of technical education. However, since the AICTE did not have statutory authority, in recent years it has not been able to enforce many of its recommendations relating to maintenance of standards and coordinated development of technical education.

29.2 During the year 1987-88 a bill was therefore brought up to vest the AICTE with statutory powers. This bill has since been passed by Parliament and become an act. The statutory powers now vested in the AICTE will ensure:

- proper planning and coordinated development of technical education system throughout the country.

- promotion of qualitative improvement of technical education in relation to planned quantitative growth, and

- regulation of the system and proper maintenance of norms and standards.

29.3 Steps have been taken, since the passage of the bill in December 1987, towards constituting the statutory Council and its various bodies, formulation of rules and regulations and Working out the physical and staff infrastructure for implementation.

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