New Delhi, Jan 13 (UNI) union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday chaired the 13th meeting of the Council of the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (NITSER) at Bharat Mandapam here.
The Council meeting was preceded by the 3rd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs).
During the meeting, detailed presentations were made on measures to enhance academic excellence, strengthen research output and improve institutional governance across NITs, IISERs and the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST).
Emphasising curriculum reforms, the Minister said academic programmes must be aligned with emerging and critical technologies such as Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, semiconductors, green hydrogen and advanced manufacturing.
He underlined that these reforms are essential to support India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Pradhan called for specialised postgraduate and M Tech programmes tailored to industry-specific needs and stressed the importance of developing a clear roadmap to align higher technical education with national priorities and future workforce requirements.
Highlighting the need for comprehensive PhD reforms, the Minister proposed industry-led and industry-funded doctoral programmes, product-based PhDs, and allocation of PhD supervision based on faculty performance.
He also suggested the creation of industry-led curriculum committees to design courses aligned with emerging job roles and 21st-century skill requirements.
On quality assurance, Pradhan said premier technological institutions must be brought under a robust accreditation framework. All NITs and IISERs agreed to complete external peer reviews within one year and to actively participate in the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation process.
The Council also focused on strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems across NITs and IIEST, with an emphasis on transforming institutions into hubs that nurture job creators rather than job seekers. A national pitching conclave for NIT-incubated start-ups will be organised in July 2026 in collaboration with investors and industry stakeholders.
Promoting inclusivity, the meeting discussed the use of Bharatiya Bhashas in education and the application of artificial intelligence for multilingual learning to ensure equitable access for learners from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament Ghanshyam Tiwari and Shashank Mani, senior government officials, academic leaders from IISc, IITs, IISERs, NITs and IIEST, and representatives from NITI Aayog, Atal Innovation Mission and the Ministry of Education.
