IIT Students To Get Scholarships For Innovative Ideas

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar recently announced a new scholarship for students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) for coming up with innovative ideas in the field of technology and industries. This announcement was made at the inauguration of IIT Dharwad, Karnataka on Sunday.

During the inauguration ceremony of IIT-Dharwad, Javadekar said that the Centre will soon encourage students to come up with innovative ideas which will be funded by the government by offering a scholarship worth INR 60,000.

Javadekar stated at the event, “You sell your ideas, we will fund them”. The scheme is expected to encourage students to bring-in innovation that will eventually promote growth in the industries.

He also added that the Union government is working towards the growth of higher education with more focus on research activities. More funds will be provided to accommodate greater number of candidates under Gyan, Impression and related programmes.

He also called promotion of education a ‘national policy and not a political agenda’. Sanctioning of institutes like IITs to the State government where BJP was not in power was labelled part of the national policy.

Javadekar also assured absolute help for construction of a permanent campus for IIT Dharwad which happens to be the 23rd IIT in India. The institute has been inaugurated at the premises of University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. He also assured setting up of more Jawahar Navodaya schools and Kendriya Vidyalaya in the area.

However, he did not react on demand for providing 25% regional quota for students of host States in IITs, raised by Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi.

Chief Minister of Karanataka, Siddaramaiah who was also present for the inauguration extended complete support for all Central government initiatives for promotion of higher education. He also called providing 470 acres of land to IIT Dharwad for free as part of his support.