Prakash Javadekar asks IIMs for plan to increase students intake

NEW DELHI: IIMs have been told to expand their intake capacity to double so that more students can be admitted. They have also been asked to explore the possibility of increasing number of doctoral students.
However, there was no discussion on doing away with reservation in faculty appointment. A passing mention was made that social equity principles enshrined in the Constitution be followed.After the meeting of IIM directors/chairperson on Tuesday in Shillong, Javadekar clarified that as far as reservations are concerned, it is the constitution which provides for it and the government has no plans to make changes in reservations.
Javadekar said IIMs have been asked to submit plans for expansion of their intake capacity. A senior official said, “Intake will be doubled to nearly 20,000 from current over 9,000 in post-graduate diploma courses. IIM directors have assured the minister that they will soon give their proposal. There is no deadline to achieve double the intake.”
As for expansion of doctoral programme, Javadekar told IIM directors that it will help deal with problems of faculty crunch. He also said better avenues of fellowship will be offered to willing candidates. In the line with the IIT Council decision to award PM’s scholarship for Ph.D scholars, it could be extended to IIMs also. However, final decision in this regard will be taken with Cabinet approval, Javadekar said.
Also, it was decided that IIMs will participate in a new initiative of government to make 20 world class universities/institutes. Of these 20 world class institutes that the government wishes to build, 10 institutes will be in government sector and 10 in private sector. IIMs will actively participate in creating contents for Swayam which is an information technology platform hosting Open Online Courses and will provide high quality education on various subjects from class IX to Under Graduate and Post Graduate students — covering all disciplines. Swayam is a free course which can be availed online and shall be a complete channel of new Open Learning system comprising of lectures, reading materials, tutorials, mid exams, final exams and certification.