Union Cabinet approves Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Bill, 2017

The Union Cabinet, presided by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 15 March 2017 approved introduction of the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT PPP) Bill, 2017.

The proposed Bill grants statutory status to the fifteen Indian Institutes of Information Technology in Public Private Partnership and declares them as Institutions of National Importance.

In addition, the Bill enables these institutions to grant degrees to their students in the academic courses conducted by them.

About IIIT PPP Bill, 2017

• There is no financial implication with regard to the proposed IIIT PPP Bill, 2017.

• The Bill will declare the existing IIITs in Public Private Partnership as Institutions of National Importance with powers to award degrees.

• The Bill will entitle the institutions to use the nomenclature of Bachelor of Technology (BTech) or Master of Technology (MTech) or PhD degree as issued by a University or Institution of National Importance.

• The grant of a formal degree in Information Technology, Engineering or PhD will add a boost to the prospects of the graduating students in the job market.

• The grant of a formal degree will also enable the institutes to draw enough students required to develop a strong research base in the country in the field of information technology.

• Every institute shall be open to each and every student, irrespective of gender, caste, creed, disability, and domicile, ethnicity, social or economic background.