Govt. wants to take away, what made IIMs special 

Last year the govt hit the autonomy enjoyed by IIMs in selection of its chairman and director. Then came the ruling that alumni cant donate directly to their alma mater, instead the funds have to be routed via bharat shiksha kosh which will have final say in dispersal of funds. This was finally shelved following the strong uproar against it.

Now the govt wants all IIMs to sign a MOU failing which future funds for development will be frozen. According to the MOU, the IIMs have to reveal all their academic, financial and infrastructural plans. It also requires that the IIMs increase seats.

The ministry also wants the IIIMs to adhere to the single management test the HRD Ministry plans for all management institutes across the country, in place of the current common admission test or CAT by 2005-06, a point reiterated in the circular.

This in contrast to the plans for an All India Engineering Exam, which would allow IITs to continue with the current joint entrance exam (JEE).

The responsibility for the development of the new test lies with an appointed committee, the National Co-ordination Committee (NCC), in which a single IIIM has been represented – IIM Lucknow.

The wording of the circular also suggests that the interview process that the IIMs follow would be scrapped under such a test, “All admissions shall be made strictly on the basis of inter –se merit based on common entrance tests as above. Seat allocation shall be coordinated by the Central Authority in case of admissions made on All India basis”.

This would curb the independence of the IIMs, both in terms of decision-making with regard to admissions, as well as revenue-wise, with the CAT tests a major source of revenue for the institutes.

Sources at IIMB voiced a fear common among the IIMs that increased government control would mean the institutes having to cater to changes in what courses can be offered and their content, according to the wishes of the government. They also fear having to compromise on infrastructure, quality and the possibility of faculty short-ages as a result of increased in take of students.