IIT : Rs 988 cr for enhancing IIT seats: Govt

Rs 988 cr for enhancing IIT seats: Govt

Press Trust of India
Posted online: March 12, 2007 at 1253

The government has allocated Rs 988 crore in budget estimates for 2007-08 for increasing infrastructure of IIT institutions in the wake of decision to provide 27 per cent reservation for students belonging to backward castes, Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday.

"Government is committed to provide adequate funds to increase infrastructure on account of increase in the intake of capacity of students," HRD Minister Arjun Singh said in a written reply.

The OBC quota, in addition to existing reservations for SC/ST students, will be provided over a maximum period of three years beginning with the academic session 2007-08, he said.

Singh said while doing so the institutes will have to ensure that total seats for general category students is maintained at 2006-07 level.

He said a sum of Rs 988 crore is proposed in budget estimates for 2007-08 for capacity expansion of IITs.

The Minister said IITs have also increased their intake of Ph D programmes to make available increased number of eligible persons to take up faculty positions.

SSA: A sum of Rs 10,671 crore has been provided in budget estimates for 2007-08 for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Singh said.

While Rs 3,678 crore will be provided as Gross Budgetary Support, a sum of Rs 6993 crore will be raised from Prarambhik Shiksha Kosh which was established to account for accruals of education cess, he said.

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