Amendments to the National Institutes of Technology Act 2007

The Union Cabinet have approved the proposal to amend the National Institutes of Technology Act 2007. The salient features of the amendment are as under:
i) Incorporation of Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) in the National Institutes of Technology Act 2007;
(ii) Need to strengthen existing transitional provisions of the Act;
(iii) Need to give representation to nearby premier Central Institutions in the Board of Governors; and
(iv) Need to amend the procedure for appointment of Deputy Directors in NITs.

Effective amendments into the NIT Act 2007 will remove certain drawbacks in the NIT Act 2007; and incorporation of IISERs into the NIT Act, 2007. Declaring them as Institutes of national importance, will enable them in awarding of the degrees etc.

The proposed amendments aim at fostering improvements in the existing set-up, establishment of proper and effective management structures in the Technical Institutions, providing an environment to encourage innovative ideas.

BACKGROUND:

The National Institutes of Technology Act, 2007 covers 20 such institutions as listed in the Schedule of the Act. Now that the Act has been in operation for about 23 months, a need has been felt to amend it.

The Bill to amend the National Institutes of Technology Act, 2007 will be introduced in both the Houses of Parliament in their next session, and once the same is approved, the amendment to the Act will come in to force after receiving the assent of the President.