Question : SECOND SHIFT IN ENGINEERING COLLEGES

(a) whether the Union Government has received any requests/proposals from the State Governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to accord approval to all the Engineering Colleges to start diploma courses in the `Second Shift` to provide benefit particularly to the students of lower middle class and to enlarge the much needed skilled manpower in their States;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has accorded approval in this regard and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether AICTE has allowed other States for a second shift in their Engineering Colleges; and

(e) if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani)

(a) to (e): No such request/proposal has been received from the State Governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to accord approval to all the Engineering Colleges to start diploma courses in the `Second Shift` to provide benefit particularly to the students of lower middle class and to enlarge the much needed skilled manpower in their States. However, the AICTE has allowed to start courses in Second Shift based on the provisions of the Approval Process Handbook. The state wise number of institutions approved by AICTE for conducting Second Shift in engineering colleges including the State of Andhra Pradesh is at Annexure.