20 New IIITs in India

Green signal has been given for setting up of 20 new IIITs in the country after differences between industry bodies and the government over the issue of autonomy were sorted out.

Now the new Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) will enjoy autonomy but the government can question their functioning if "need be", a senior government official said.

The government has prepared a blueprint for the IIITs to be set up under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode which will come before the Cabinet for approval soon.

The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) had prepared a detailed project report on how these institutes would come up and function.

The government then discussed the DPR with representatives from various stakeholders, including industry bodies like FICCI, who were in favour of granting complete autonomy to these institutes.

"The final decision on the IIITs is that they will be autonomous organisations. But the government can interfere if need be," the official said.

Representatives from private sector had expressed concern over audit to be conducted by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

"It was sorted out. In fact there is no difference between audit done by chartered accountants and the CAG. Government rules and regulations are followed in any case," he said.

The representatives from private sector had also said that they will not support those IIITs which will be set up in North-eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir as there are not enough industries in the two regions.