The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has awarded the Institute of Eminence (IoE) tag to five more institutes including Delhi University (DU), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), University of Hyderabad, IIT-Madras and IIT-Kharagpur. The decision was taken following a recommendation made by the University Grants Commission (UGC) last month on the advice of an Empowered Expert Committee.

Regarding the IoE tag, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said, “Orders have been issued to five public institutions — IIT-Madras, IIT-Kharagpur, DU, BHU and University of Hyderabad, declaring them as IoEs. The Letter of Intent for granting the IoE status have been issued to five private universities including Amrita Vidyapeetham, Tamil Nadu, Jamia Hamdard University, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Odisha, and Bharti Institute, Mohali.”

5 Public Universities declared as IoE. 5 Private Universities selected & issued LoIs. 2 State Universities selected & State Govts asked to confirm contributions. 2 other Private Universities selected where States asked for legislative steps to enable them to come under IoE status pic.twitter.com/ljenrN69RH

— Ministry of HRD (@HRDMinistry) September 5, 2019

The institutions will further be required to submit their willingness to commence academic operations as IoEs. The selection panel also recommended names of Shiv Nadar University, Noida and OP Jindal University, Sonipat. Pokhriyal further added, “Letters have been issued to Haryana and UP government to pass a legislation in the state assembly to cease the status of these universities as private universities under the state and as to enable them to be considered as IoE deemed universities.”

Governments of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu too have been asked to accept their commitment towards contribution to Jadavpur University and Anna University respectively in order to enable them to have the IoE tag. “They will be considered for issue of the IoE status only after the respective state governments have issued an official communication allocating their share of the funds up to 50 per cent,” said Pokhriyal.

The move is part of a scheme of the HRD Ministry announced last year to select 20 IoEs — 10 public and 10 private, which will enjoy complete academic and administrative autonomy. Earlier, the UGC announced 14 institutions selected for Institutions of Eminence (IoE) tag.

Source: Indian Express