(a) whether the Government has taken steps to upgrade certain Universities as Indian
Institutes of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST);
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) whether the Government has taken up the issue of upgradation of these Universities
with the respective State Governments; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) & (b): The Anandakrishnan Committee, which was constituted in 2005 to assess the
potential of some selected Institutions for their transformation to high-level technological
‘Institutes of National Importance (INI)’, had recommended 05 (five) Institutes to be converted
into ‘Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST)’ through an Act of
Parliament. The five recommended Institutes were (1) Bengal Engineering College – Shibpur
(West Bengal) [later became Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU) – Shibpur];
(2) Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) – Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh); (3)
Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) – Kochi (Kerala); (4) Andhra University
College of Engineering – Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh); and (5) University College of
Engineering (UCE), Osmania University – Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh).
(c) & (d): In consultation with the respective State Governments, the Government of India
has upgraded IT (BHU) as Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi w.e.f. 29.06.2012.
Similarly, the BESU has also been upgraded as IIEST, Shibpur w.e.f. 04.03.2014.
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