Govt clears the air on top billing for Jio Institute
NEW DELHI: Facing a barrage of uncomfortable questions over its move to tag the Jio Institute of Reliance Foundation - which exists only on paper - as an "Institution of Eminence", the government on Tuesday clarified that what Jio would have for now is only a "letter of intent" and they will make the cut only after meeting conditions. The Jio Institute was on the elite list on Monday along with two IITs, the Indian Institute of Science and two others. The "eminence" label gives these institutes unprecedented freedom from government controls and promises "enabling architecture" to help them achieve global excellence.
Besides the IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) Delhi and Bombay, the Indian Institute of Science and Jio Institute, the list has BITS Pilani and the Manipal Academy.
After an outcry on social media, where the Jio Institute has been a trending topic, the government clarified that the planned institute was named in the "greenfield" category, which acknowledges new proposals.
The Human Resource Development ministry said it received 11 private proposals but its panel of experts felt that only Jio cleared all four specifications - land availability, highly qualified and experienced core team, funding and strategic vision with "clear milestones and action plan".
On Tuesday Education Secretary R Subramanyam implied that the Jio Institute was yet to qualify. "If they set up a good campus within three years and have a good faculty and fulfil all the criteria, they will get the Institute of Eminence status. Right now they don't have the tag; they only have a letter of intent," he said.
The top official also clarified reports of an Rs. 1,000 crore grant for institutes of eminence. "Rs. 1000 crore will be given only to public institutions, that is, Indian Institute of Science, IIT Delhi and IIT Mumbai," Subramanyam said.
According to the official, a panel chose Institutes of Eminence in three categories from among 20 candidates - public institutions like IITs, private institutions like BITS Pilani and Greenfield private institutions.
On Greenfield institutes, he said: "These institutions are not there right now, but where well-meaning responsible private investment wants to bring global standards to the country, they should be welcomed."
