MHRD to ensure AICTE accountability for engineering institutions approval

Union Minister of Human Resources Development, Dr M M Pallam Raju has said that his ministry will take appropriate measures to ensure some degree of accountability and quality is maintained in the approval process of institutions.

Earlier this month, Madras High Court came down heavily on the approval process followed by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for engineering colleges.

Raju said as a fundamental right, the Centre cannot stop anyone from starting a university but the ministry can work towards ensuring that quality is maintained.

“We are taking regulatory measures and encouraging institutes to go in for accreditation,” he said.

He also urged states to respond to ensure quality in higher education. He said, “States should make regulatory changes if they want universities and higher institutes to evolve towards adopting best practices,”.