Anna University to not get IoE status: HRD

Anna University is heading towards losing its chances of becoming an institute of eminence (IoE). After eight months of waiting for clarification on some doubts and a letter of commitment from the state government, the union ministry of human resource development has informed Anna University that IoE status would be offered to the next university on the list if it does not get a letter of commitment soon. Next on the list comes Savitribai Phule Pune University. In August last year, the MHRD had declared IoE status for seven public institutions, including Anna University and IIT Madras. Moreover, seven private institutions were also given IoE status.

Central institutions were given the status immediately. But the ministry wanted a letter of commitment for Anna University and Jadavpur University from the corresponding state governments promising their share of funds. Anna University would receive a fund of Rs 1,000 crore from the central government. Moreover, it would get more sovereignty for the next five years if it receives the IoE status. The state government would need to spend Rs 1,570 crore. According to an Anna University official, MHRD had agreed to all the conditions of the state government and university officials cleared the doubts of ministers, there has been no positive response from the state government for reasons unknown.

Before this, the state government asked for clarification on whether the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 1993, which sees 69 per cent reservation would apply to Anna University after getting the IoE tag. The MHRD said the state government’s reservation policy would apply even after getting the IoE status.

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