National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021

National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021

Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Education

In news Parliament has passed the National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021. 

• The Bill has been passed in both the houses and will become act once the President gives his assent to it.

• Through the bill, the two educational institutes, under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries became Institutions of National Importance (INI).
  • National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Kundali (Haryana) 
  • Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology(IIFPT), Thanjabur (Tamil Nadu) 
• The bill will provide these Institutes Greater Autonomy, so that they can start new and innovative courses, as well as help them to attract excellent faculty and students. Global standards can also be adopted in academic and research work.

What is the Meaning of Institute of National Importance?

• The Central Government grants the status of ‘Institute of National Importance’ to premier higher educational institutions in India through an act of the Parliament.
• According to the Ministry of Education, an institute of national importance is an institute that “serves as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country/state”.
• Such institutes get special funding and recognition from the Government of India.
• The first reference to ‘institute of national importance’ is given in the Constitution of India, Seventh Schedule.
• They are largely supervised and funded by the Government of India through the Education Ministry (formerly the Ministry of Human Resources Development).
• Currently, there are 130 institutions with the INI tag.
• Some of the benefits that INIs enjoy are listed below:

• • Functional autonomy to enhance efficiency, quality and accountability.
  • Increased funding.
  • Have a better quality of education imparted, and improved research facilities.
  • Faster decision-making capabilities.
  • Minimal interference from the political executive.
  • Such institutions might be able to provide more scholarships to the students.
  • They can also provide more sports facilities, seminars, etc.

News Source: PIB