IIMC may get 'Institute of National Importance' tag

The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) may soon be declared an Institute of National Importance by the government.

According to PTI, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is examining a proposal to declare several institutes, including Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), as 'Institutions of National Importance' under the Central Universities Act, the government said today.

The government proposed to grant the status of 'An Institution of National Importance' to IIMC through an Act of Parliament. The "final draft" of the Bill -- The Indian Institute of Mass Communication Bill, 2015 for soliciting the approval of the Cabinet for its introduction in Parliament has also been prepared, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told Lok Sabha in a written reply.

"However, the Ministry of HRD is examining the proposal to include all such institutes proposed to be declared as 'Institutions of National Importance' by various ministries or departments under the existing Central Universities Act, 2009," the minister said.

Further action to accord the status of 'Institution of National Importance' depends on the comments or advise of the ministry, he said.

Rathore also said the Jammu and Kashmir and Maharashtra governments have communicated about making land available for IIMC centres in Jammu and Amravati, respectively.