By IANS,
Ahmedabad: Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Wednesday said the focus on mere graduation was a key factor for lack of research in leading institutions.
He was responding to questions regarding the controversy over Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh’s criticism of the faculty of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
Initially most of the courses at the IITs pertained to B.Tech and those who wanted to pursue further studies went abroad, he told reporters here.
Sibal said that research studies begin at post-graduation level and India has lagged behind in giving priority to research.
“The US and China allocate $250 billion and about $50 to $60 billion respectively to research. In comparison, India allocates only $8 billion,” he said.
“The faculties cannot be faulted for this,” he added while pointing out that post-graduate studies are now being accorded considerable priority in these institutes.
Ramesh said Monday that only the students, and not the faculty, at IITs and IIMs were world class, which stirred a debate on the issue among academicians, policial leaders and students.