NIT Act to be amended to include IISERs
 
New Delhi, Feb 08, 2010 : The government will introduce NIT Amendment Act during the ensuing session of Parliament to bring the Indian Institutes of Science Education Research (IISERs) under its ambit and give them the status of Institutes of National Importance. The government wants to amend the NIT Act to include the five IISERs under the Act. The five IISERs are now functioning as societies and are unable to award degrees to the students. The issue was discussed during the meeting between NIT directors and Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal today.
 
Parliament had enacted the NIT Act in 2007, giving the status of Institutes of National Importance to the erstwhile 17 Regional Engineering Colleges (REC). The RECs were renamed as NITs since then.
 
However, the five IISERs, which have been started at Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, Bhopal and Thirvuananthpuram to promote science education, have been functioning as societies. These institutes are offering five-year Master of Science courses.
 
"Most likely the NIT Amendment Bill will be introduced in the Parliament during the ensuing session. The proposal to amend the Act has been approved by the Cabinet," a ministry official said.  The amendment to the NIT Act will also give representation to the nearby premier central institutes in the Board of Governors of the NITs, the official said.  The amendment will also bring changes in the procedure for appointment of deputy directors of NITs.
 
The other issues discussed at the meeting include reforms in the admission and examination of NITs which offer engineering courses at under-graduate level. These students take students from merit list of All India Engineering Entrance Examination. The government has set up a peer group with directors of three NITs for the purpose.
 
There are 17 NITs at present. The government has decided to set up 10 new NITs this year. While eight states have submitted reports on feasibility and locations, Delhi and Meghalaya are are yet to submit their reports.