This story is from August 21, 2018

IITs to continue BTech programmes; no changes in JEE (Advanced)

The Council of IITs rejected the proposal to set up an expert committee to suggest measures for reforms in the JEE (advanced) process. It also rejected the proposal for "allocation of only to an institute" instead of the present practice of allocation of branch of engineering during the centralised undergraduate counselling/ admission on Monday.
IITs to continue BTech programmes; no changes in JEE (Advanced)
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar addresses the media in New Delhi. (PTI File Photo)
NEW DELHI: The Council of IITs rejected the proposal to set up an expert committee to suggest measures for reforms in the JEE (advanced) process. It also rejected the proposal for "allocation of only to an institute" instead of the present practice of allocation of branch of engineering during the centralised undergraduate counselling/ admission on Monday.

Among the major decisions taken in the 52nd Council meeting is to empower the IITs to individually decide the fee structure for foreign students, no fee hike for undergraduate studies at the IITs and, as first reported by TOI, "joint effort for recruitment of foreign faculty in the IIT system."
"There will be no revision in tuition fee charged from undergraduate students in IITs. The council did not consider any changes in the JEE (Advanced)," Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar told PTI here.
"The IIT Pal designed to help students in preparing for JEE would be further extended and would be made available with hand holding support from SWAYAM," he added.
With regards to the JEE (Advanced) there was a proposal to set up an expert committee to address the concerns of dependence on the coaching centres and "to develop a robust and scientifically designed entrance exam system to test the potential candidates…" The another proposal that "instead of making allocation of branch, there should be allocation if only to an institute, based on their preference and merit at the
Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) level."
"The Council decided that there is no need for a separate committee. We are improving the exams and the Joint Admission Board is doing the reforms. Last year only the exam went completely online. On the matter of allocation of institute instead of branch during JoSAA counselling, many IITs didn't feel it's a good idea," said Bhaskar Ramamurthy, director, IIT-Madras.
The Council meanwhile decided that the IITs will now individually decide on the fee for the foreign students at postgraduate level. Till now the fee structure has been decided by the Council.
The council also turned down the proposal to scrap BTech courses and make the premiere institution mentor other engineering colleges.
In another decision, a joint effort has been mooted for recruitment of foreign faculty. The Council adopted that one of the IITs may be designated as coordinating institute for a particular country, which will identify academicians of India origin completing PhD programmes.
The other decisions taken at the meeting include, IIT will mentor at least five engineering colleges located in its vicinity in order to improve the quality and standard of engineering education in the country, there will be no revision in tuition fee being charged from the undergraduate students and a committee comprising of directors of IIT-Delhi, IIT-Hyderabad and IIT-Tirupati has been constituted to recommend standards and norms for construction of campuses and infrastructure projects in IITs.
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