15 existing IIITs can grant degrees as bill passed in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill declaring the 15 existing IIITs, established through public-private partnership, as institutions of national importance.
HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar (File Photo | PTI)
HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar (File Photo | PTI)

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill which recognises 15 Indian Institutes of Information technology (IITs) as institution of national importance. The bill aims to allow the IIITs to award degrees to students.

During debate on the bill, the Lok Sabha witnessed claims and counter-claims to job losses in the IT sector. The Congress MP Deependra Singh Hooda claimed that thousands of software professionals in big IT hubs, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, have lost their jobs. “There is an increasing trend of protectionism in the developed countries, including the US and Australia. The US has raised the salary ceiling to $1,30,000, which is much above what Indian professionals get. Even Australia has changed its Visa programme against the interests of Indian software professionals,” said Hooda, while initiating the debate on the Bill in the House.

The Congress MP referred to McKinsey report to claim that 45 per cent of the jobs in the IT sector in the next 30 years will be lost in the country.

However, Union Minister for Human Resources and Development (HRD) Prakash Javdekar countered the claims of the Congress MP, saying that the NASSCOM has stated that 70 lakhs more jobs in the IT sector will be created in the coming years.

The Lok Sabha passed the Indian Institutes of Information and technology (Public-Private Partership) Bill, 2017 with voice votes. Members in the House sought measures from the government to stop brain drain. The government will set up five more IIITs in the country.

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