HRD Ministry Urges IITs to Allow Non- Resident Students at Undergraduate Level

After the HRD Ministry recently suggested the idea of including non-resident students in the IITs at the undergraduate level, the IIT has shown their disliking towards the same as they believe that this is likely to change the character of IITs. Most of the IIT directors argued that by allowing nonresident students in the campus, the spirit of the campus will be lost and they would no longer be able to be a part of the IIT ecosystem.

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One IIT director commented that studying in an IIT is not only about studies but it is about the larger environment which is open for debate and a liberal atmosphere also. He also said that the undergraduate courses offered at IITs are the most sought after courses. Also, the IITs are not opposing the idea of having non-resident students at post-graduate and doctorate level.

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Many IITs feel that the responsibility of the well-being of their students will remain in their hands even if the students are living out of the campus. During the IIT Council meeting which was conducted last month, most of the IITs have not shown any enthusiasm from their side. Instead, chairperson of one of the IIT said that the IITs should hand over the entire hostel upkeep to an outside agency. In that manner, the outside agency will pay the fee to the IITs and in return give rooms to the students at the price prevailing in the market. Also, the money received by the IITs from the outside agencies can be further used to subsidize hostel charges of needy students.

The HRD Ministry had earlier suggested the idea of non-resident students for the undergraduate and doctoral level in order to increase the number of students studying at IITs to one lakh by 2020.