(a) whether the UGC had directed the Indraprastha University
to discontinue 4 year Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT)
course just days before the university’s entrance examination on
June 10, 2001, leaving hundreds of applicants in the lurch;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) the number of candidates suffered as a result thereof; and
(d) the steps taken to mitigate the hardship and damage of the
applicants?
THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI)
(a) to (d): Based on the general principle that 4 Year
Technology courses are not in its domain, the University Grants
Commission (UGC) has decided that BIT courses, which are of 4
Years duration, would not come under the purview of Section 22
of the UGC Act. Universities would instead offer 3 Year B.Sc.
degrees. However, students already enrolled in the 4 Year
course upto the last Academic Session 2000-2001 would be
protected.