New Delhi: Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public Private Partnership) Bill, 2017 (IIIT-PPP Bill, 2017), will be introduced in the Parliament for its approval very soon. IIIT-PPP Bill, 2017 has been already approved by Union Cabinet on 15 March 2017. The IIIT-PPP Bill, 2017 allows the IIITs for granting degrees to the passed out students from these institutes.

This information was given by the Minister of State (HRD), Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey today in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question. Under the IIIT-PPP Bill, 2017 bill, there are fifteen IIITs and these will be granted statutory status as Institutions of National Importance.

The grant of a formal degree in Information Technology, Engineering or PhD will enhance the prospects of the graduating students in the job market and will also enable the institutes to attract enough students required to develop a strong research base in the country in the field of information technology.

Presently, there are fifteen functioning IIIT-PPP, which are being mentored by NITs, IITs and other Institutes. The IIITs-PPP are registered as Societies under Society Registration Act. A Memorandum of Association which includes Rules and Regulations, signed by the Central Government, the concerned State Government and Industry Partner(s) is put in place for each IIIT-PPP. Section (5) of the Rules and Regulations of IIIT Society provides for constitution of a Board of Governors which functions as the Policy making Body of the IIIT-PPP.