AICTE Handbook 2023-24: New engineering colleges, more BTech seats allowed

NEW DELHI: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has issued the approval process handbook for the 2023-24 academic session. AICTE Chairman, TG Sitharam while announcing the changes in the approval handbook for this year today, March 22, said that the moratorium has been lifted with certain conditions particularly emphasising on emerging areas including AI.

AICTE has also increased the maximum approved intake from the current 300 to 360 in engineering and management programmes, and from 180 to 300 in computer application programme.

Also Read | AICTE Approval Process Handbook 2023: Five major changes for engineering colleges

Those intending to apply to set up new institutions, obtain extension of approval and obtain no objection certificate (NOC) for running the core areas and in online distance learning and online mode from the standalone institutions, institutions deemed to be universities and universities will be able to start applying from tomorrow.

Sitharam also has announced that from now on the merger of different PG diploma and MBA programmes will be allowed. However, AICTE added, mergers will be allowed as long as the student-teacher ratio is maintained.

Also Read | AICTE to lift ban on new engineering colleges, improve admissions in core branches

PM CARE supernumerary seats in polytechnic institutes will not continue, AICTE said, adding that the technical education regulator will establish a platform or hire counsellors to address mental health issues of students and teachers.

Saying that the aspirational districts will be encouraged, the chairman said the focus will be on placements and skill development will play an important role in the programmes.

AICTE 2023-24 Approval Process Handbook: Highlights

When applying for new courses, AICTE added, the engineering institutions must have at least three core branches already and unlike previous years institution can apply for multiple programmes from now on.

AICTE further added that it will allow institutions to start courses in emerging areas irrespective of enrollment, unlike the minimum requirement of at least 50 percent enrollment needed in core branches to start emerging area courses earlier.

60 percent NBA accerditation by NBA will be provided in the next one year, AICTE said.

The collaboration and twinning norms have also been relaxed. AICTE added that QS ranks, the top 1,000 rank holders and foreign institutions will be invited for collaboration. First 100 AICTE-approved institutions will be allowed for collaboration, AICTE added.