RADHAKRISHNAN COMMITTEE

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Context: The Radhakrishnan Committee, which was set up by the Ministry of Education to review the governance and functioning of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), has submitted its report to the government.

Details

Key Recommendations

Overarching agency

• IITs be brought under the ambit of a proposed overarching agency, which would be responsible for coordinating and regulating all aspects of higher technical education in the country.
• It would enhance the autonomy and accountability of the IITs, as well as foster greater collaboration and synergy among them and other institutions of national importance.
• The agency should have representation from all stakeholders, including the central and state governments, industry, academia, alumni and students.

Common practice

• IITs should adopt a common admission process, a common academic calendar, a common curriculum framework and a common faculty recruitment policy. 

Inclusive

• IITs should increase their intake of students from diverse backgrounds, especially from rural areas and underrepresented groups.
• The committee has recommended that the IITs should reserve 10% of their seats for students from economically weaker sections, 15% for students from scheduled castes and 7.5% for students from scheduled tribes.
• It has also suggested that the IITs should offer scholarships and fee waivers to meritorious students from these categories.

Enhance research

• The committee has also urged the IITs to enhance their research output and impact, as well as their engagement with society and industry.
• It has proposed that the IITs should allocate at least 20% of their budget for research and development activities, and establish centres of excellence in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nanotechnology and renewable energy.
• It has been recommended that the IITs should collaborate with other research institutions, both within and outside India, and create platforms for knowledge exchange and technology transfer.
• It has also emphasized that the IITs should undertake socially relevant projects and address the challenges faced by various sectors of the economy.

Conclusion

• The report of the Radhakrishnan Committee is expected to have far-reaching implications for the future of higher technical education in India. The government is yet to take a final decision on the recommendations of the committee.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-panel-recommends-overarching-agency-to-grade-varsities-including-iits-8619125/