The bill related to the Indian Institutes of Information Technology IIIT Laws Amendment Bill, 2020 has been introduced by the Minister of Human Resource Development, Mr. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ in Lok Sabha on March 4, 2020. This Bill amends the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014 and the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act, 2017.
Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act, 2017 has declared that various Indian Institutes of Information Technology were established under Public-Private Partnership mode as institutions of the national importance. Under this Act, overall 15 institutes are presently incorporated as an institution of national importance.
Read our article:Highlights on Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020
Highlights in the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020
Impact of IIIT Laws Amendment Bill
The IIIT Laws Amendment Bill has declared the remaining 5 IIITs-PPP along with an existing 15 Indian Institutes of Information Technology in Public Private Partnership mode as ‘Institutions of a National Importance’ with the powers for awarding degrees. It will entitle them to use a nomenclature of Master of Technology (M.Tech) or Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) or Ph.D degree as issued by a University or Institution of National Importance[1]. This has also enabled the Institutes to attract the students required developing the strong research base in a country in the field of (IT) information technology.
Background of the Newly Introduced Bill
- IIITs are envisaged for promoting higher education and research in a field of Information Technology.
- Under this Scheme of Setting up of new 20 IIITs in Public Private Partnership mode is as approved by a Union Cabinet on 26 Nov 2010. The 15 IIITs are covered already by the IIIT (PPP) Act, 2017; however the remaining 5 IIITs must be included under the Schedule of the Act.
Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014 & “Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act, 2017” both are the unique initiatives of the Government of India for imparting knowledge in a domain of Information Technology to provide solutions for the challenges faced by a country.
What is New IIIT Law Amendment Bill 2020?
- Introduction of Indian Institutes of Information Technology IIIT Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 is to amend the principal Acts of year 2014 and of year 2017.
- Amendment is to grant statutory status to 5 (IIIT) Indian Institutes of Information Technology in (PPP) Public Private Partnership mode at Bhopal, Surat, Bhagalpur, Raichur and Agartala declare them as Institutions of National Importance along with the existing 15 (IIIT) Indian Institutes of Information Technology under “Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act, 2017”.
Objective of the Bill
The objective is gain approval for formalization of IIITs at Bhopal, Surat, Bhagalpur, Raichur and Agartala. These IIITs are already functioning as Societies and are registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860. As of now it will be covered under the IIIT (PPP) Act of 2017, same as the other 15 IIITs established under a scheme in PPP mode.
Furthermore, the IIITDM Kurnool has been established as per the IIIT Act, 2014. It functions with the other 4 IIITs which are IIIT Allahabad, IIITDM Jabalpur, IIITM Gwalior, IIITDM Kancheepuram. The post of Registrar and Director in the IIITs already exist and the present proposal will merely formalizes them without any other additional financial outgo.
Conclusion
The IIIT Law amendment bill has declared 5 Indian Institutes of Information Technology to set up under the Public Private Partnership mode in Bhopal, Surat, Bhagalpur, Raichur and Agartala as institutions of the national importance. Presently, all these institutes have been registered as Societies under the “Societies Registration Act, 1860” although do not have a power to grant degrees or diplomas. After being declared institutions of national importance, these all 5 institutes have grabbed the power to grant degrees.
Read our article:Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill, 2020 passed by the Assembly amid COVID 19 Pandemic
Indian-Institutes-of-Information-Technology-Laws-Amendment-Act-2020
