This article represents an individual view.
What are the proposed Central Institutes of Technology?
- Different from IITs/NITs/IIITs
IITs and IIITs have no state quota, while NITs and IIEST have a 50% state quota. But there are several other central technical institutes where the state quota is institute dependent. In some central technical institutes, a 0% state quota, in some that is 80% and in some 90%. Some institutes are deemed to be universities, some are affiliated to central universities and some are affiliated to state universities. We need a unique branded umbrella “Central Institutes of Technology” backed by the new ‘Central Institutes of Technology Act’ that covers all those types of fully centrally funded technical institutes and declares them similar to Institutions of National Importance(INI). The name ‘Central Institute of Technology’ is taken from a centrally funded technical institute, CIT Kokrajhar, Assam.
What’s the need for creating one more engineering institution brand?
I am in favour of creating the CIT group of engineering institutes (Central Institutes of Technology) in India. Now one simple question: if we already have IITs, NITs & IIITs in India for engineering, then why spend more taxpayers’ money on developing CITs? What’s the need for creating one more engineering institution brand? Generally, I am the person who supports some level of privatisation even in the education field, but I still believe at the present stage central government intervening and all state governments’ support is required to create some strong technical education institute brand in a shorter period of time, because generally, Indian parents and students trust more in central government colleges. If anything happens during 4 years of engineering education (like issues of affiliations, accreditations or fee increments etc., because some norms are kept changing over a period of time), then if you are a government college student, then you don’t need to worry much about it. A government can step up and take care of the situation, while a single private institute or university may or may not handle the situation depending upon their own strength. Secondly, it’s not easy for a private institute or university to create and maintain multiple campuses all over India in a short period of time. Thirdly, because of the increasing population of India each year, we also require more INI level institutes to accommodate and create more skill-forces.
- Avail to More Students
Central Institute of Technology can also provide a 3-year diploma engineering course and also allow lateral entry (for e.g., direct 2nd year admission to degree engineering courses for diploma holders). These facilities aren’t allowed in IITs/NITs/IIITs, but at present, several other centrally funded technical institutes or engineering departments of central universities are providing these facilities. Diploma holders will also get a chance to study in INI level institutes, if those are converted into CITs. Keep any state or other quota as it is initially in each CIT. Each CIT should be affiliated or clustered with a central university. It also helps any central university with resource sharing, more academic diversity, research activities, university ranking etc.
- Low-Cost Setup
The government has taken a policy decision to not convert any state university/institute into a central university/institute for reasons of legacy issues, adjustment of existing staff and disaffiliation of affiliated colleges. But the government can upgrade the central funded institutes without any disaffiliation. Only totally centrally funded institutes or engineering departments of central universities should be converted into CITs without compromising any affiliation. Since these selected institutes are already funded by the central government, there should be no high additional setup expenditures.
- More Research Facilities Creation
Presently, most undergraduate students take admission to colleges based on placement or tag rather than passion or research. College tag is directly associated with placements rather than research activities. [ While most international or national ranking is based on academic performance (including faculty members), so higher importance is given to research or white paper publication over campus placement. That’s why some reputed institutes with strong placement records are ranked poorly. Sometimes even because of lower student or professor strength.] But, CITs being INI level institutes, many public and private enterprises will set up their collaborative research centres there, like IITs or NITs. Many firms or industrialists prefer to give donations to setup research centres or buildings in these kinds of national institutes over some state institutes. These facilities may attract more students towards research activities.
- Larger Eligible Talent Pool
Some companies prefer to hire from IITs/NITs/IIITs/top elite public-private institutes in a campus placement. Some investors or VCs prefer to invest in those start-ups founded by the alumni of these institutes. If we create one more INI (Institutions of National Importance) level engineering institution brand, then they will create a larger talent pool covering more students and fresh graduates.
- More Students Getting Desiring Branch
For example, at present, computer science is the most preferred branch among engineering aspirants. The major reasons are campus placement and high numbers of career opportunities and pay scale. Having said this, we can’t ignore any core engineering branch. But the problem is, no one wants to take a risk for passion and everybody wants to play a safe game. Getting a higher salary at a fresher level is a major driving force to encourage students and parents to go to the CS branch without seeing where a student’s passion lies. I don’t blame anyone for this, it’s a human tendency. But, it’s not possible for every aspirant to get a desired branch. By creating better quality INI level institutes, students will get a lot of options.
- Beneficial to All Stream
Some centrally funded technical institutes are already conducting and others will also start B.A.(Eco.), B.Sc./M.Sc., BBA, MBA, MCA etc programmes in which other stream students can also take admission and can improve their chance to study from INI level institutes. It also brings more academic diversity.
Selecting institutes for CITs formation
- Each CIT should be affiliated or clustered with a central university.
- The future campus means a central university will provide engineering courses at its permanent location in the future. At present, Sindhu Central University(Ladakh), Central University of Andhra Pradesh(Anantapur), Central University of Gujarat(Vadodara – Permanent Campus), Central University of Karnataka(Kalaburagi), Central University of Kerala(Kasaragod), Central University of Tamil Nadu(Thiruvarur), Central University of Odisha(Koraput) and Central University of Himachal Pradesh(Dharamshala) aren’t providing regular engineering courses. But, they will in the future. [Please note; academic details of any university or institute are kept changing over a period of time. Better to visit their websites for exact status and details.]
The below-mentioned institutes are fully residential-deemed universities and already Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (Ministry of Education). Keep any state or other quota as it is initially.
- CIT, Kokrajhar should be the first CIT. (Make cluster with Assam University)
- SLIET, Longowal should be converted into CIT Longowal. (Make cluster with Central University of Punjab)
- NERIST, Itanagar should be converted into CIT Itanagar. (Make cluster with Rajiv Gandhi University)
The below-mentioned institutes are already funded by the central government (Ministry of Education) and affiliated to some state universities. Keep any state or other quota as it is initially.
- NIAMT Ranchi (affiliated to Jharkhand University of Technology) should be converted into CIT Ranchi. (Make a cluster with Central University of Jharkhand).
- NIELIT Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (affiliated to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University) should be converted into CIT Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. (Make a cluster with Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya).
- GKCIET, Malda (affiliated to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology) should be converted into CIT Malda. (Make cluster with Visva-Bharti University)
The below-mentioned institutes/departments are already funded by the central government (Ministry of Education) and affiliated to some central university. Keep any state or other quota as it is initially.
- ZHCET, Aligarh (affiliated to Aligarh Muslim University) should be converted into CIT Aligarh.
- JKIAPT, Prayagraj (affiliated to Allahabad University) should be converted into CIT Prayagraj.
- SEST, Hyderabad (affiliated to University of Hyderabad) should be converted into CIT Hyderabad.
- ITGGU, Bilaspur (affiliated to Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya) should be converted into CIT Bilaspur.
- SCSICT, Motihari (affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi Central University) should be converted into CIT Motihari.
- DBRAIT, Port Blair (affiliated to Pondicherry University) should be converted into CIT Port Blair.
- SIST, Chisopani (affiliated to Sikkim University) should be converted into CIT Chisopani.
- MIT, Imphal (affiliated to Manipur University) should be converted into CIT Imphal.
- TIT, Agartala (affiliated to Tripura University) should be converted into CIT Agartala.
- SET-NU, Dimapur (affiliated to Nagaland University) should be converted into CIT Dimapur.
- SOE, Tezpur (affiliated to Tezpur University) should be converted into CIT Tezpur.
- IoET, Sagar (affiliated to Dr. H.S. Gour University) should be converted into CIT Sagar.
- SoT, Shillong (affiliated to North-Eastern Hill University) should be converted into CIT Shillong.
- MZU SET, Aizawl (affiliated to Mizoram University) should be converted into CIT Aizawl.
- SoET, Mahendragarh (affiliated to Central University of Haryana) should be converted into CIT Mahendragarh.
- SoET, Ajmer (affiliated to Central University of Rajasthan) should be converted into CIT Ajmer.
- SoE, Samba (affiliated to Central University of Jammu) should be converted into CIT Jammu.
- SoE, Ganderbal (affiliated to Central University of Kashmir) should be converted into CIT Ganderbal.
- SoET, Srinagar (Garhwal) (affiliated to Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University) should be converted into CIT Srinagar.
- UIET, Lucknow (affiliated to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University) should be converted into CIT Lucknow.
- Since Delhi city has many central universities which are providing engineering courses – (DU, JNU & JMI), the engineering faculty of any one central university should be converted into CIT Delhi.
