IIITs

The HRD ministry has prepared a public-private-partnership (PPP) model for setting up 20 IIITs under which the expenditure could be shared 85:15 between the government and industry. According to a note prepared by the ministry for these projects, each Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) would be set up at an investment of Rs 200 crore and the government would bear 85% of the expenditure. Of the 85% spending, the Centre would provide for 50% and the state government would bear 35% of expenditure. It means the Centre will provide Rs 100 crore, the state government Rs 70 crore and the industry Rs 30 crore for setting up of each IIIT. “The ministry has prepared 50-35-15 funds sharing pattern between the Centre, state and industry. The Planning Commission has given in-principle approval for it. Now the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) will consider it,’’ a ministry official said. The ministry has over-ruled a proposal of Nasscom, which had prepared a Detailed Project Report suggesting that the private sector should bear more than 50% of the cost. The Planning Commission had objected to Nasscom’s proposal. Now if the EFC approves the government’s proposal, it would be moved to Cabinet for final approval. As per the plan, each IIIT would be a centre of excellence and specialise in a specific area. These institutes would concentrate more on basic than applied research. The ministry would bring in a bill in Parliament to confer them with the status of institutes of national importance. They can offer degree and Ph.D programmes once they become institutes of national importance. Some of the IIITs would be set up in northeastern states. If the industry does not come forward, the DONER (Ministry for Development of North-Eastern Region) would provide additional funds, the official said. The buildings and campuses of these institutes would be made environmentfriendly.