Chennai, 29 September 2019: on 27 September 2019 at 53rdMeeting of the Council of IITs, the 23 IITs have got approval to increase MTech course fees by 10 times to Rs 2 Lakh/ year. The Council approved, in principle, recommendations of the three Member Committee constituted for suggesting reforms in MTech system. The Committee has, inter-alia, recommended uniform fee structure for MTech programme in all IITs, and for charging the same fee for M Tech as in B Tech programmes.

Currently, IITs charge in the range of  Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000 as annual MTech tuition fee.

This fee hike move was strongly opposed by MTech aspirant and GATE preparing student community.

Now IITs have clarified that the increase in fees will be gradual, and only for future admissions, and will be decided by the BoG (Board of Governors) of each IIT.

In a press statement, IIT Madras said that the fees for MTech programmes at IITs has not been revised for many years and are to be increased, particularly to deter students who discontinue the course mid-way.

IIT Madras informed that scholarships given to reserved category students will continue as at present.

The limited number of scholarships currently being given to meritorious M.Tech. students will also continue.

Ramgopal Rao, Director of IIT Delhi, posted his personal views on FaceBook social media on the MTech course fee hike. He opined that the Council of IITs resolution also says that all needy students will be given fee concessions and scholarships similar to the BTech students. No eligible student in the B.Tech programmes has ever been denied admission in IITs because of her/his poor financial background. There is no reason to believe that this will be any different for top GATE scorers seeking admission into the MTech programmes.