Edu-leaders

The Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said that the focus on mere graduation has been a key factor for the lack of research in leading institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).

Sibal was responding to questions on the controversy over Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh's criticism of the faculty of IITs and IIMs.

Initially, most of the courses at the IITs were related to BTech and those who wanted to pursue further studies went abroad, he said.

Research studies begin at the post graduation level and India has lagged behind in giving priority to research, he added.

"The US and China allocate $250 billion and about $50 to $60 bn respectively to research. In comparison, India allocates only $8 billion," he said.

"The faculties cannot be blamed for this," he added while pointing out that post graduate studies are now being accorded considerable priority in these institutes.

Ramesh had Monday said that only the students, and not the faculty, at IITs and IIMs were world class, which stirred a debate on the issue among academicians, political leaders and students.

Source: igovernment