AICTE Lifts Ban On New Engineering Colleges, Invites Applications For Setting Up New Institutions

Lifting the ban, the AICTE has also started inviting applications for setting up new institutions, and extending the approval of existing ones.

AICTE Lifts Ban On New Engineering Colleges (Representational Image)

Source : Getty

The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has announced the lifting of the moratorium on the opening of new engineering and technical colleges. Notably, in the wake of declining admissions and increasing number of vacant seats in engineering and technical institutions, the AICTE introduced a ban on setting up new engineering and technical colleges in 2020, for the academic year 2020-21. Later on, the technical education regulating body extended the ban further. 

Notifying through its official twitter handle, the AICTE on March 21, called for receiving applications for setting up new technical institutions, extension of approval of existing colleges, and extension of approval for engineering/technical programmes and courses. The AICTE also released a public notice for the approval process. 

“AICTE invites applications from the Education Partners (Stakeholders) for the following proposals: - 

1. Setting up the New Technical Institutions in the Programmes - Engineering and Technology, Planning, Applied Arts and Crafts, Design, Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Computer Application (MCA), Management (PGCM/PGDM/MBA) 
2. Extension of approval from the Existing Technical Institutions / Institutions Deemed to be Universities/ Universities (Central/State / Private) 
3. To obtain Extension of Approval / NOC for running the Programmes / Courses (Management, Computer Applications, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Logistics and Travel & Tourism) in ODL and or Online mode from the Standalone Institutions / Institutions Deemed to be Universities/ Universities (Central/State / Private),” reads the official AICTE notice. 

On March 22, AICTE Chairman Prof TG Sitharam also launched the approval-process handbook 2023-24, at the Ministry of Education. On the very same day, the online portal to submit applications requesting approval of institutions was also launched. 

“Moratorium for establishing New Institution in Engineering and Technology has been lifted from AY 2023-24. However, for establishing a New Institution in Engineering and Technology, preference shall be given to the applicant offering courses in multi-disciplinary areas in-line with NEP 2020 in STEM areas,” reads the AICTE’s new Approval Process Handbook. 

The online application portal for setting up new engineering, technical institutions, extending approval for existing engineering, technical colleges, and extending the approval of courses offered by such colleges, institutions  is live on the AICTE website. The last date to submit applications is April 6, 2023. Applications can also be submitted till April 13, with a penalty. However, all such interested education partners, stakeholders, are requested to carefully go through the official AICTE notice and the Approval Process Handbook 2023-24.