News Analysis India

Tag: IITs

  • 16 students died by suicide in IITs, NITs & IIMs in 2022

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Sixteen students, including eight from IITs, died by suicide in 2022,  and the reason was academic stress, family and personal reasons, mental health issues, etc, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday.

    In 2023, six cases were reported, three each from the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) and the National Institute of Technology (NITs).

    In 2019, 16 students – eight each from IITs and NITs – died by suicide.  

    In 2021, seven students – four – from IITs – took the extreme step, while in 2020, five students – three from IITs – died by suicide.

    In a written reply, Minister of State for Education Dr Subhas Sarkar said, “The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provisions for counselling systems for handling stress and emotional adjustments in Institutions.”

    It also provides opportunities for students participation in sports, culture/arts clubs, eco-clubs, activity clubs, community service projects, etc.

    Further, in alignment with the NEP, to eradicate language barriers for the students for an improved understanding and improved teaching learning outcome, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has initiated the work of translation of technical books in 12 scheduled regional languages.

    The minister said the University Grants Commission (UGC) has also circulated the National Suicide Prevention Strategy formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on January 6.

     The ministry has undertaken various steps such as peer-assisted learning, the introduction of technical education in regional languages for students in order to ease academic stress.

    The minister said the government’s initiative, named MANODARPAN, covers a wide range of activities to provide psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being during the Covid outbreak and beyond.

    The ministry has also advised the institutions to make the system more robust which would include prevention, detection and remedial measures for addressing the possible causes of suicides.

    ALSO READ | India’s educational institutions must do better to support persons with special needs. Here’s why

    The higher educational institutions take various steps such as conducting workshops/seminars on happiness and wellness, regular sessions on Yoga, induction programs, extracurricular activities including sports and cultural activities, assigning one faculty adviser per 10 students to support with their academics and monitor their progress, and appointment of Student Counsellors for overall personality development and de-stressing students.

    Further, students, wardens, and caretakers are sensitized to bring to notice the signs of depression in fellow students to the authorities so that timely clinical consultation may be provided, Sarkar said.

    Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call Sneha Foundation – 04424640050 (available 24×7).

    NEW DELHI: Sixteen students, including eight from IITs, died by suicide in 2022,  and the reason was academic stress, family and personal reasons, mental health issues, etc, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday.

    In 2023, six cases were reported, three each from the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) and the National Institute of Technology (NITs).

    In 2019, 16 students – eight each from IITs and NITs – died by suicide.  googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In 2021, seven students – four – from IITs – took the extreme step, while in 2020, five students – three from IITs – died by suicide.

    In a written reply, Minister of State for Education Dr Subhas Sarkar said, “The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provisions for counselling systems for handling stress and emotional adjustments in Institutions.”

    It also provides opportunities for students participation in sports, culture/arts clubs, eco-clubs, activity clubs, community service projects, etc.

    Further, in alignment with the NEP, to eradicate language barriers for the students for an improved understanding and improved teaching learning outcome, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has initiated the work of translation of technical books in 12 scheduled regional languages.

    The minister said the University Grants Commission (UGC) has also circulated the National Suicide Prevention Strategy formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on January 6.

     The ministry has undertaken various steps such as peer-assisted learning, the introduction of technical education in regional languages for students in order to ease academic stress.

    The minister said the government’s initiative, named MANODARPAN, covers a wide range of activities to provide psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being during the Covid outbreak and beyond.

    The ministry has also advised the institutions to make the system more robust which would include prevention, detection and remedial measures for addressing the possible causes of suicides.

    ALSO READ | India’s educational institutions must do better to support persons with special needs. Here’s why

    The higher educational institutions take various steps such as conducting workshops/seminars on happiness and wellness, regular sessions on Yoga, induction programs, extracurricular activities including sports and cultural activities, assigning one faculty adviser per 10 students to support with their academics and monitor their progress, and appointment of Student Counsellors for overall personality development and de-stressing students.

    Further, students, wardens, and caretakers are sensitized to bring to notice the signs of depression in fellow students to the authorities so that timely clinical consultation may be provided, Sarkar said.

    Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call Sneha Foundation – 04424640050 (available 24×7).

  • Shortage of teachers in IITs and IIMs, says Centre

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: As many as 4,502 faculty posts are lying vacant in the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the centre told the Lok Sabha on Monday.

    In a written reply, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said 493 teaching positions need to be filled up in the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) out of the sanctioned strength of 1566.

    He said out of the 18,956 sanctioned teaching posts in 45 central universities, 12776 seats are filled up, and 6180 posts are vacant as on December 1, 2022. 

    According to data shared by the minister,  out of the 6180 posts lying vacant in the central universities, 1529 positions are of professors, 2304 of associate professors and 2347of assistant professors. 

    Of the total vacant positions in the central universities, 908 jobs – in the three categories of professor, associate professors and assistant professors – of Scheduled Castes (SC) need to be filled out of the sanctioned posts of 2284. Similarly, 544 positions of Scheduled Tribes (ST) need to be filled in the three categories out of the sanctioned posts of 1142. 

    Also, 1559 Other Backward Castes (OBC) teaching positions are lying vacant against the sanctioned strength of 3451.  About 301 positions of Persons With Disabilities (PWD) need to be filled in central universities in the three categories against the sanctioned strength of 513 positions.

    In IIMs, of the total vacant posts, 53 positions are of SC out of the sanctioned strength of 97; 34 of ST out of 40 positions; and 98 of OBC out of 184.

    There is no separate category for PWD in IIMs. No break-up was given for IITs.

    “The Ministry of Education has also directed all higher education institutions to fill up the vacancies in a mission mode,” the minister said in a written reply.

    “Occurrence of vacancies and filling thereof is a continuous process,” the minister said.

    Pradhan said in addition to writing to all the Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) to fill up the vacancies in a mission mode; the ministry has set up a monthly monitoring mechanism. 

    The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers Cadre) Act, 2019, was notified on July 9, 2019, to ensure the preparation of the rosters by considering the university as a unit. 

    Also, according to the Act, reservation is applicable in all the HEIs except the institutions listed in the schedule and a few other exceptions stated in the Act. 

    Further, as per this Act, reservation is provided for all posts in direct recruitment in the teacher’s cadre in Central Educational Institutions. After enactment of this Act, no reserved seat is to be de-reserved, the minister added.

    NEW DELHI: As many as 4,502 faculty posts are lying vacant in the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the centre told the Lok Sabha on Monday.

    In a written reply, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said 493 teaching positions need to be filled up in the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) out of the sanctioned strength of 1566.

    He said out of the 18,956 sanctioned teaching posts in 45 central universities, 12776 seats are filled up, and 6180 posts are vacant as on December 1, 2022. 

    According to data shared by the minister,  out of the 6180 posts lying vacant in the central universities, 1529 positions are of professors, 2304 of associate professors and 2347of assistant professors. 

    Of the total vacant positions in the central universities, 908 jobs – in the three categories of professor, associate professors and assistant professors – of Scheduled Castes (SC) need to be filled out of the sanctioned posts of 2284. Similarly, 544 positions of Scheduled Tribes (ST) need to be filled in the three categories out of the sanctioned posts of 1142. 

    Also, 1559 Other Backward Castes (OBC) teaching positions are lying vacant against the sanctioned strength of 3451.  About 301 positions of Persons With Disabilities (PWD) need to be filled in central universities in the three categories against the sanctioned strength of 513 positions.

    In IIMs, of the total vacant posts, 53 positions are of SC out of the sanctioned strength of 97; 34 of ST out of 40 positions; and 98 of OBC out of 184.

    There is no separate category for PWD in IIMs. No break-up was given for IITs.

    “The Ministry of Education has also directed all higher education institutions to fill up the vacancies in a mission mode,” the minister said in a written reply.

    “Occurrence of vacancies and filling thereof is a continuous process,” the minister said.

    Pradhan said in addition to writing to all the Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) to fill up the vacancies in a mission mode; the ministry has set up a monthly monitoring mechanism. 

    The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers Cadre) Act, 2019, was notified on July 9, 2019, to ensure the preparation of the rosters by considering the university as a unit. 

    Also, according to the Act, reservation is applicable in all the HEIs except the institutions listed in the schedule and a few other exceptions stated in the Act. 

    Further, as per this Act, reservation is provided for all posts in direct recruitment in the teacher’s cadre in Central Educational Institutions. After enactment of this Act, no reserved seat is to be de-reserved, the minister added.

  • IITs can help make India $5tn economy, says Dharmendra Pradhan

    By Express News Service

    CHENNAI:  Institutes like IITs have a major role in making India a $5 trillion economy and fulfilling the vision of Viksit Bharat, said union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday during his visit to IIT Madras. “The next 25 years are very important for all of us.

    While entering the Amrit kaal, we leapfrogged ahead of a country that colonised us. India is evolving at an unprecedented pace. A fast-growing India will have huge domestic requirements which have to be fulfilled by our IITs,” he added.

    Pradhan further said that IITs are not just educational institutions, they are the temples to create a scientific temper and shape humanity’s future. Pradhan also urged the students to innovate, bring social change, file patents for the public good and facilitate the ease of living for the poorest.

    “Our students need to rekindle their inner strengths, reignite their ‘Chetna’. The students have to think big, drive social change and become job-providers rather than job-seekers,” Pradhan said. The Union minister highlighted that society has great expectations from IITs and the IITians have to be torchbearers of growth and development.

    During his visit, Pradhan participated in a series of events at IIT Madras. He released the Strategic Plan 2021-27 of IIT Madras which proposed an ambitious growth phase for the Institute. He also launched ‘Kotak IITM Save Energy’ Mission, being set up with CSR funding support from Kotak to help MSMEs reduce energy consumption and felicitated the Mphasis team for supporting the growth of the Centre for Quantum Information, Communication and Computing (CQuICC) besides flagging off other projects and initiatives of IIT Madras.

    He also awarded the diploma certificates to select students of BSc program in Data Science.  The union minister also visited the 5G Test bed for a demonstration, at the Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Development Centre, the Rocket Factory of IIT Madras-based Start-up Agnikul Cosmos, Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre and the IIT Madras Incubation Cell at the IIT Madras Research Park apart from other research facilities such as Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre and the 3D-printed house in the campus.

    After visiting the facilities, Pradhan lauded the initiatives of the IIT Madras. He said that the day is not far when the whole world will come to IIT Madras to benefit from the Brain Research Centre. Ideas, like 3D-printing technology can revolutionise construction, help address the issues of displacement and give a life of dignity to the poor.

    CHENNAI:  Institutes like IITs have a major role in making India a $5 trillion economy and fulfilling the vision of Viksit Bharat, said union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday during his visit to IIT Madras. “The next 25 years are very important for all of us.

    While entering the Amrit kaal, we leapfrogged ahead of a country that colonised us. India is evolving at an unprecedented pace. A fast-growing India will have huge domestic requirements which have to be fulfilled by our IITs,” he added.

    Pradhan further said that IITs are not just educational institutions, they are the temples to create a scientific temper and shape humanity’s future. Pradhan also urged the students to innovate, bring social change, file patents for the public good and facilitate the ease of living for the poorest.

    “Our students need to rekindle their inner strengths, reignite their ‘Chetna’. The students have to think big, drive social change and become job-providers rather than job-seekers,” Pradhan said. The Union minister highlighted that society has great expectations from IITs and the IITians have to be torchbearers of growth and development.

    During his visit, Pradhan participated in a series of events at IIT Madras. He released the Strategic Plan 2021-27 of IIT Madras which proposed an ambitious growth phase for the Institute. He also launched ‘Kotak IITM Save Energy’ Mission, being set up with CSR funding support from Kotak to help MSMEs reduce energy consumption and felicitated the Mphasis team for supporting the growth of the Centre for Quantum Information, Communication and Computing (CQuICC) besides flagging off other projects and initiatives of IIT Madras.

    He also awarded the diploma certificates to select students of BSc program in Data Science.  The union minister also visited the 5G Test bed for a demonstration, at the Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Development Centre, the Rocket Factory of IIT Madras-based Start-up Agnikul Cosmos, Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre and the IIT Madras Incubation Cell at the IIT Madras Research Park apart from other research facilities such as Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre and the 3D-printed house in the campus.

    After visiting the facilities, Pradhan lauded the initiatives of the IIT Madras. He said that the day is not far when the whole world will come to IIT Madras to benefit from the Brain Research Centre. Ideas, like 3D-printing technology can revolutionise construction, help address the issues of displacement and give a life of dignity to the poor.

  • Over 45000 teaching posts vacant in IITs

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Over 4,500 teaching posts are lying vacant in the so-called elite Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), including Kharagpur, Bombay and Madras, considered among the top institutes. 

    The education ministry said all IITs had been asked to fill up the vacancies in the faculty cadre through a particular recruitment drive in mission mode. Most have initiated the process; the centre told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. 

    As many as 4,596 faculty positions are vacant in 23 IITs in India, as per the education ministry.

    IIT Kharagpur needs to fill 798 faculty positions; Bombay has 517 posts empty, while Madras has to fill up 482.

    Replying to a written question, Minister of State of Education Dr Subhas Sarkar said that the IITs are autonomous institutes governed by the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 and the statutes are framed there from time to time. 

    “Filling up vacancies is a continuous process and IITs issue rolling advertisements, which are open throughout the year for all candidates, who fulfill the required qualifications and experience for faculty positions in IITs,” the minister said.

    “Ministry of Education has requested all IITs to fill up the vacancies in faculty cadre through Special Recruitment Drive in Mission Mode, and most of the IITs have initiated the process,” he added.

    After these three top three institutes, IIT Dhanbad had 446 posts to be filled, followed by Roorkee, with 419 vacant positions.

    The other institutes are – Kanpur (382), Guwahati (307), BHU (271), Jodhpur (138), Bhubaneswar (114) and Hyderabad (113).

    NEW DELHI: Over 4,500 teaching posts are lying vacant in the so-called elite Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), including Kharagpur, Bombay and Madras, considered among the top institutes. 

    The education ministry said all IITs had been asked to fill up the vacancies in the faculty cadre through a particular recruitment drive in mission mode. Most have initiated the process; the centre told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. 

    As many as 4,596 faculty positions are vacant in 23 IITs in India, as per the education ministry.

    IIT Kharagpur needs to fill 798 faculty positions; Bombay has 517 posts empty, while Madras has to fill up 482.

    Replying to a written question, Minister of State of Education Dr Subhas Sarkar said that the IITs are autonomous institutes governed by the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 and the statutes are framed there from time to time. 

    “Filling up vacancies is a continuous process and IITs issue rolling advertisements, which are open throughout the year for all candidates, who fulfill the required qualifications and experience for faculty positions in IITs,” the minister said.

    “Ministry of Education has requested all IITs to fill up the vacancies in faculty cadre through Special Recruitment Drive in Mission Mode, and most of the IITs have initiated the process,” he added.

    After these three top three institutes, IIT Dhanbad had 446 posts to be filled, followed by Roorkee, with 419 vacant positions.

    The other institutes are – Kanpur (382), Guwahati (307), BHU (271), Jodhpur (138), Bhubaneswar (114) and Hyderabad (113).

  • Several IIMs, IITs and other institutes opened in last few years: PM Modi

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted that the Central government has established a number of higher education institutes, including IITs, IIMS, IIITs and AIIMS across the country.

    “A total of seven new IIMs have been established in the last five to six years. Before this, there were only 13 IIMs in the country. Similarly, for seven decades only seven All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS) were serving the country. After the year 2014, more than double i,e, 15 AIIMS have been established in the country or are in the process of starting,” the Prime Minister said, while virtually addressing the centenary convocation of the University of Mysore.

    He said that there were 16 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in the country till 2014, even after so many years of independence.

    “In the last 6 years, on average, a new IIT has been opened every year. One of these is also open in Dharwad, Karnataka. As of 2014, there were 9 IIITs in India. In the subsequent 5 years, 16 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) have been established,” he added.

    Prime Minister Modi further said that a lot of focus has been put into the development of infrastructure and structural reforms in higher education.

    “In the last 5-6 years, we have continuously tried to help our students to go forward in the 21st century by changing our education system. Efforts in higher education aimed not only towards opening new institutes but also to ensure governance reforms and gender, social participation. At every level of education, the gross enrolment ratio of girls is higher than boys across the country. Even in higher education, and in relation to innovation and technology, the participation of girls has increased,” he said.

  • PM Modi highlights Central government establishment; talks about NEP, new IIMs, IITs

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted that the Central government has established a number of higher education institutes, including IITs, IIMS, IIITs and AIIMS across the country.

    “A total of seven new IIMs have been established in the last five to six years. Before this, there were only 13 IIMs in the country. Similarly, for seven decades only seven All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS) were serving the country. After the year 2014, more than double i,e, 15 AIIMS have been established in the country or are in the process of starting,” the Prime Minister said, while virtually addressing the centenary convocation of the University of Mysore.

    He said that there were 16 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in the country till 2014, even after so many years of independence. He said that there were 16 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in the country till 2014, even after so many years of independence.