958 applications for new institutions,AICTE says decision in three weeks

It has received 699 proposals from across the country to start new programmes in engineering and technology,followed by 232 in management. Meanwhile,it has got only nine applications for hotel management course and four applications for applied art.

“The number of seats (degree and diploma) that exists now at the entry-level across the country include 18,51,111 in engineering,3,53,234 in management and 1,19,143 in pharmacy. Similarly,there are 97,646 seats in computer application,13,107 in architecture,10,996 in hotel management and 5,060 in applied art,” he said.

The AICTE,meanwhile,has made the approval and scrutiny process more stringent. While the three-member scrutiny committee will comprise an academician,architect and advocate,the vigilance committee will have a retired judge,an academician and a bureaucrat. Similarly,the hearing committee will comprise a vice-chancellor,a professor and an architect.

The Council has called for submission of applications along with curriculum vitae for its various committees from experts including vice chancellors,retired judges,principals,scientists,teachers,bureaucrats and industry professionals among others.

An expert committee will review all applications in the first phase and recommend 10 shortlisted candidates for each committee. Subsequently,the computer will randomly select three candidates for each committee.