Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 passed

Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 passed

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Schemes; Education

In news

• Rajya Sabha passed the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020. 
• It has been already passed by Lok Sabha.

Key takeaways 

• The Bill seeks amendment to the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014 and the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-private Partnership) Act, 2017.
• The Bill seeks to declare five IIITs set up under the PPP mode in Surat, Bhopal, Bhagalpur, Agartala, and Raichur as institutions of national importance.
• Currently, these institutes are registered as Societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and do not have the power to grant degrees or diplomas. 
• On being declared institutions of national importance, the five institutes will be granted the power to grant degrees.
• The central government will contribute 50% towards the expenses of institutes functioning under the PPP mode. 
• 35% will be borne by the states and 15% by the industries.
• As a special impetus to North Eastern states, the central government will bear over 57% of the expenses whereas industries will contribute around 7% to the Institutes there.