Skilled Manpower in Education Sector
	16:10 IST

As per information furnished by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), there are a total of 3972 engineering institutions (degree and diploma level) with an annual intake capacity of 12,84,090 approved by AICTE as on 30.06.2008. In addition, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have a total annual intake capacity of 6992 seats and the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) have an annual intake capacity of 11570 seats. An intake capacity of around 10 lakh students per annum has also been created under a centrally sponsored scheme of Vocationalisation of Secondary Education. Some of the steps taken by the AICTE to encourage setting up of institutions of engineering education include (i) permitting second shift in polytechnics, (ii) relaxation of norms for the setting up of new diploma institutions, (iii) realistic and clearly defined approval process along with time schedule for processing of applications for technical institutions to ensure transparency, (iv) relaxation of processing fee etc. for establishment of new technical institutions in North-Eastern States and (v) relaxation of norms for establishment of new technical institutions exclusively for women. Under the scheme of Sub-Mission on Polytechnics, it is proposed to give assistance for the establishment of 600 polytechnics, out of which 300 polytechnics are proposed to be established under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. It is also proposed to start a revamped Community Polytechnic Scheme in the 11th Plan in 1000 polytechnics, which is expected to provide employment skills to about 6 lakh youth per year. There is also a proposal to set up 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) under PPP mode. This information was given in the Lok Sabha recently by the Minister of Human Resource Development Shri Arjun Singh in reply to a written question. -------- KKP/ska