IIT Fees Hike Put on Hold for Time Being

Updated On: October 08, 2015 01:19 pm IST

In view of the election in Bihar the proposal to raise fees for courses at the 18 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has been put on hold but wi

In view of the election in Bihar the proposal to raise fees for courses at the 18 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has been put on hold but with the promise that more scholarships be offered to students from economically weaker sections once the hike is imposed in future.

The human resources development (HRD) ministry deferred the sensitive fee hike proposal at a meeting of the IIT Council, which was headed by HRD minister. The council has indicated that the ministry is in favour of providing relief to needy students after the fee hike takes place,” said a professor from IIT Delhi.

“A committee of directors would examine ways to enhance loans to students, and maintain and enhance scholarships to needy students, especially those from the SC, ST and economically weaker sections,” said from source in HRD ministry.

Currently needy students pay just 10% of the fees that IITs charge “well-off” students. These well off students pay Rs.90, 000 per year as tuition fees. IITs last raised tuition fees fromRs.50, 000 a year to Rs.90, 000 a year in 2013. IITs spend over Rs.3 lakh on each student every year.

The Council also set up two committees—one to reduce the impact of coaching in the admission outcome at IITs, and another to devise a way to introduce a single entrance exam for both IITs and the National Institutes of Technology.

“The Council proposed a funding mechanism for IITs that would appreciably enhance government investments for building world-class infrastructure,” the HRD minister said recently.

It is to be noted that in 2011 a report by the government-appointed Anil Kakodkar Committee, called Taking IITs to Excellence and Greater Relevance, suggested a hike in tuition fees to pay for increasing running expenses at IITs and sought for greater financial autonomy.