A Note for the meeting of Chancellors/their nominees and Vice-Chancellors with the Hon’ble Minister of HRD on 26th October 2006 at New Delhi

 

 

I.  Reservation of Seats in Admission for the Weaker Sections of Society

 

1.                  At BITS, Pilani we have always maintained that merit should be the only criterion for admission into any programme run by the Institute.  There is no management/NRI quota.

2.                  Any departure from merit will be detrimental to the eminent institutions whether they are deemed to be universities or any other kind of institutions.

3.                  In order to provide opportunity for the weaker sections of society who have had no facilities for good education a provision has to be made in the schools to give them special coaching so that they can compete with other students.

4.                  Scholarship schemes by the Government for candidates who are able to compete will encourage many students of weaker sections to compete for admission in the best of the institutions in the country. ‘Pratibha’ scholarship provided by Andhra Pradesh Government to candidates admitted in All India institutions is an example.

 

II.  Fair and Transparent Admission Procedure

 

1.                  BITS has always been following a very fair and transparent process of admission to all the programmes of the Institute. At present we are conducting an on-line admission test known as BITSAT, which is conducted at 15 centres across the country and this examination is spread over almost 45 days. Candidates are required to have obtained 80% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in 12th class examination with a minimum of 60% in each of these subjects. Admissions are based on the marks obtained by the candidates in the BITSAT examination and the preferences given by them. The process is highly transparent.  The offer of admission is announced on the Internet and a copy of the offer is sent to student without asking him to appear for counselling. This has given us students of very good quality and they are coming from all parts of the country and from all strata of the society. The Institute provides scholarships to needy students. 

2.                  As a university we would like to maintain this criterion for all students who wish to seek admission to the Institute. We do not want to introduce quota of any kind.

3.                  Any student admitted to the Institute through a criterion other than merit will find it difficult to pursue the courses of studies in different years and such a candidate will be a drag on the system. Merit based admission alone can ensure homogenous input into the higher education system. BITS system has also ensured the creation of a classless, casteless society. Thousands of BITS alumni identify themselves as Indians, and not belonging to any caste, religion or language.

 

 

III.   Regulation Regarding Fees

 

1.                  BITS has maintained a fees structure which is affordable and is almost comparable to the fees in IITs, even though BITS is a privately funded deemed to be university.

2.                  The fees are periodically increased marginally. 

3.                  While the Government can set guidelines on maximum fees that can be charged, unaided institutions must be free to fix their fees, scholarships, etc.

 

We are a privately funded institution at par with IITs in the country. Eminent deemed universities are playing an important role in the country and the Government and all its agencies must ensure that autonomy of these institutions is preserved for:

 

(a)               Admission of students

(b)               Fees charged

(c)               Curriculum design and introduction of new courses

(d)               Faculty recruitment.

 

These institutions should also be encouraged to offer education beyond the shores of India. BITS has set up a campus in Dubai which is operating in a very satisfactory manner and is competing with the world’s best universities in Dubai.

 

BITS has also established a campus in Goa out of its own budgetary allocation and the campus is serving the cause of higher and technical education in the western region of the country.

 

Government of Andhra Pradesh has invited the Institute to open a campus at Hyderabad which the Institute is taking up.

 

Admissions at all the campuses and to all the programmes offered by the Institute are highly transparent and merit based.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                L.K. Maheshwari

                                                                                                                                                                Vice-Chancellor