NEW DELHI, DEC 30
From now, technical institutes approved by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) have to reserve up to five per cent of super-annuatory seats for students from economically backward sections of the society.
“Till now, tuition fee waiver scheme operated by AICTE allowed providing up to 10 per cent supernumerary seats that are given to students of economically backward category.
“It was the discretion on the part of the institution to apply for such a scheme. Now these seats are made mandatory for every institute up to five per cent, Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal said.
Unveiling the revised AICTE norms here today, he said the technical institutes can from now on can increase the intake capacity per programme from 40 to 60 seats.
Opening up the doors to the corporate sector, he said companies can also set up technical institutes provided they set up entities registered as a non-profit entity under Section 25 of the company’s act to run such institutes.
No joint venture will, however, apply to this, he said, adding the scheme would only be allowed in 241 districts where at present no AICTE approved institute exist.
“If the corporate sector wants to offer AICTE programmes, they can do so after setting up a section 25 company without a joint venture, and thereafter seek approval from AICTE for the programmes,” he said.
At present, only trusts and cooperative societies are allowed to run technical institutes.
