The amendment will enable the institutions to attract enough students required to develop a strong research base in the country

Rajya Sabha passed the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 in New Delhi on Tuesday. The bill will confer the status of National Importance to five Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) — Surat, Bhopal, Bhagalpur, Agartala, and Raichur. The government said that this will promote information technology in the country by developing a strong research base for thousands of students.

“Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji, the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 has been passed in Rajya Sabha today,” the official handle of the Ministry of Education tweeted.



The bill amends the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014, and the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act, 2017.

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that the bill will enable developing a strong research base in the country in the field of Information Technology.

“The Bill 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,” he tweeted.



Pokhriyal further said that IIIT Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 will entitle the institutions to use the nomenclature of Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) or Master of Technology (M.Tech) or Ph.D. degree as issued by a University or Institution of National Importance.

During a discussion before the passing of the bill, the education minister said technology is one of the high priority areas for this government and it is enhancing the adoption of technology across the sector to raise productivity and standards.

“The New Education Policy along with technology would strengthen the foundation of the New India,” he said.

The Minister further noted that the government has given priority to the Northeast in the bill.

“In IIITs, the Government of India contributes 50 percent and the rest 35 percent and 15 percent are from the respective state governments and the industry. While in the case of the Northeast, 50 percent sum of the industry participation is taken care of by the Government of India,” he said.