Class 12 marks, aptitude test for IIT entrance

New Delhi: Union Minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal on Friday announced major changes in the admission process to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology.

After presiding over a meeting of the IIT Council in New Delhi, Sibal said that marks obtained by a student in Class 12 along with an aptitude test would decide admissions into IITs and other engineering colleges. He said that modalities were still being worked out to make the changes in the admission process and no timeframe has been set for implementing the new proposals.

He also announced that IITs could also offer medical courses if the Medical Council of India gave its approval.

"One of the far reaching decisions was to include medicine in the IITs which would have first required amendments. We are making sure that where ever the instructions lead to a degree relating to any branch of medicine then of course the clearance from the MCI under the Act will have to be taken," said Sibal.

He, however, said no MCI approval would be required where IITs engage with inter-disciplinary research for the advancement of learning and dissemination of knowledge not leading to a degree or qualification for the practice of medicine.

Earlier this year, the proposal had been turned down after objections by the Union Health Ministry.

For this exercise, it has been decided to set up a permanent standing committee under RA Mashelkar, former head of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

The council also decided to enable IITs to recruit foreign faculties which should not be more than 10 per cent of the total faculty strength.

"In principle, we agreed that IITs are entitled to recruiting foreign faculties", Sibal said adding they will set up a mechanism with the Home Ministry to ensure there is no "hiccup in the process and there is easy exit and entry of people" as faculties.

Some other issues like bringing amendments to the Indian Citizenship Act will also have to be looked into, he said.

IITs have contended that the presence of foreign faculty in their campuses would expose students to globally distinguished professors besides lending a true international flavour in campuses and reducing brain drain.

Sibal said the meeting also agreed in principle to admit up to 25 per cent foreign students at the post graduate level on a "supernumerary basis without affecting the present admission norms for Indian students".

(With inputs from PTI)