Question : AMENDMENT IN AICTE ACT

(a) whether the Government has received any complaints regarding corruption in technical/educational institutions vis-a-vis All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) during the last three years ;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and year-wise along with the response of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government has decided to amend the AICTE Act and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to insulate technical educational institutions from irregularities?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. Shashi Tharoor)

(a) to (b): Yes Madam, the details of the state-wise and year-wise complaints received and the response of the Government are at Annexure.

(c): The Government has proposed to amend the AICTE Act 1987, by the way of a bill, so as to restore to the AICTE powers to regulate Technical Education by the redefining of Technical Institutions. The Cabinet has considered the bill and decided that the matter may be considered by the Group of Ministers.

(d): To insulate Technical Educational Institutions from irregularities, the AICTE has notified regulations and has an annual Approval Process Handbook containing norms and standards from time to time. Institutions violating these norms and standards are liable for punitive action as per the Approval Process Handbook. Further, the AICTE has introduced e-governance in all the processes to bring about transparency, accountability, flexibility by integrating the entire system.