IIT council meet to discuss fee hike, common entrance issues

Updated on: Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Several key issues including a possible fee hike and a nationwide common entrance test for undergraduate programmes for engineering and science are expected to come up for deliberation at the IIT council meeting here on Sept 14.

The Anil Kakodkar committee, which was set up to suggest a road map for the autonomy and future of the IITs had recommended a steep hike in tuition fee for IIT students from Rs 50,000 per annum to Rs 2-2.5 lakh per annum.

The committee, which presented its report to HRD Minister Kapil Sibal in February, had also suggested a 'special loan scheme' to offset the burden, attracting no collateral and on personal guarantee of the student.

Secretary to the Department of Science and Technology T Ramasami, under whose chairmanship a committee was constituted to assess the examination and admission system in engineering programmes, is also expected to make a presentation on holding a pan-India single common entrance examination for admission in engineering and science disciplines.

Though some states are opposed to such a move, Sibal has said it is his "dream" to see the first all-India common entrance test by 2013.

The council could also take a call on setting up a task force to study rising number of suicide cases among IIT students and suggest "systemic" measures to address the issue.

Other issues like establishment of IIT extension centre of Delhi in Haryana, re-constitution of standing committee of the IIT Council, upgrading of professors to HAG scale after 10 years are also expected to come up for discussion.

IIT council meet to discuss fee hike, common entrance issues

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