IISc, IIT Mumbai, Delhi, Manipal, BITS Pilani, Jio Institute get ‘Institutions of Eminence’ status

NEW DELHI, JULY 9: The MHRD has announced ‘Institution of Eminence’ status for six institutions including Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, IIT Mumbai and IIT Delhi in public domain and three other institutions in private domain which include Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), BITS Pilani and Jio Institute.

The IISc, IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi besides getting complete autonomy will also receive government funding of Rs 1000 crore in next five years.

The government of India, last year, had announced to select 20 institutions - 10 each in public and private, for IoE status and invited applications from institutions for the same. This year, in February a high-powered committee under the chairmanship of former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami was formed to select 20 top educational institutes. The committee, however, could find only 6 institutions to be worthy for IoE status.

Though, it received more than 100 application from institutions across the country, it became a challenge for the committee to shortlist the top 20 due to a key criterion which required institutions to get into the top 100 globally within a stipulated period of time.

Getting the status of IoE will facilitate these six institutions to grow more rapidly and at the same time, they will get more opportunity to scale up their operations with more skills and quality improvement so that they become world class Institutes.

Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar, announcing the names of shortlisted institutions, said, “We have 800 universities, but not a single university in top 100 or even 200 in the world ranking. Today's decision will help achieve this. Improving ranking needs sustained planning, complete freedom & public institutes getting public funding.”

The Minister added that while today's decision gives virtually full autonomy to the selected institutions, it will also ensure that no student is denied the opportunity of education with various measures like scholarships, interest waiver, fee waiver and ensure all equity principles.

Dr Ranjan Pai, Chairman, Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG) said, "We are deeply humbled to receive this recognition. The vision of Dr.Ramdas.M.Pai spelt out decades back to build a world class University providing Holistic development to student, painstakingly executed by the Faculty and staff has made us reach this milestone today. To us it’s a journey and we will continue with more vigour and commitment in the years to come. Such recognition is motivating and provides us renewed energy in our pursuit of excellence."

Getting the IoE status will also facilitate these institutions grow more rapidly and at the same time, they will get more opportunity to scale up their operations with more skills and quality improvement so that they become world class Institutes, he said.