New IITs and more Ph.Ds - IIT Reform Panel

Hyderabad, 24th November 2011: In a bid to reform the existing IIT JEE examination pattern and weightages, the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India has set up and expert panel to prepare a roadmap. The move has been taken in the wake of various important reforms in IIT JEE suggested by the Anil Kakodkar headed panel of experts. The committee for implementation of IIT reforms also will be headed by Anil Kakodkar, former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission.

The new committee will consist of following experts from IITs: Ashok Jhunjhunwala from IIT-Madras and also chairperson of standing committee of IITs; R K Shevgaonkar, director of IIT Delhi and Devang Khakhar, director of IIT-Bombay. Another director of IIT will be coopted later in the process. Kakodkar committee has submitted report with very clear recommendations to reform the IIT JEE, India's most popular and prestigious entrance examination for admission to Engineering courses in IITs. The academic issues raised by the Kakodkar committee will be collectively discussed and implemented by the IITs. The newly set up implementation committee is likely to act as an interface between the HRD ministry and IITs.

The Govt. of India is mulling to implement some of the minor recommendations in the coming six months. Suggestions such as change in the administrative and fee structure of IITs. There will be gradual changes in the issues of financial autonomy and administration. Many of the recommendations of the Kakodkar panel were accepted by IIT Council, which is a highest decision making body for issued concerning IITs.
Most important suggestion of the Kakodkar Committee is related to rebranding IITs as primary research institutes. The committee recommended to ramp up Ph.D students from the present less than 1, 000 students to 10,000 by 2020-25. The number of IITs also should be increased to 20 from the present 15 by 2020-25. The Kakodkar Panel strongly recommended setting up of exclusive research parks at all IITs in the lines existing one at IIT-Madras. It also suggested to provide generous scholarships to all Post Graduate, Ph.D., MS and M.Tech candidates and also for reserved category and students from weaker sections of society for B.Tech courses.

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