<p>The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) delivered a mortal blow to IIM Bangalore's (IIMB) dreams of more autonomy, when it rejected several amendments to the institute's memorandum of association (MoA). <br /><br />The rejections come after the Mukesh Ambani-led Board of Governors approved the amendments and forwarded it to the Union government in January. <br /><br />Some proposals that have been rejected include giving powers to the board to appoint a director, removal of the government's suo moto powers to launch an inquiry and allowing IIMB to award degrees. <br /><br />IIMB's proposal regarding appointment of a director is strange, considering that the directors of all IIMs including that of Bangalore, agreed only late last year to a collegium-based appointment system. Similarly, the proposal to allow IIMB to award degrees is also odd. In India, only universities created by an act of law or declared a deemed university can present degrees, and IIMB is neither.<br /><br />One area where the government has not disappointed IIMB is in approving the amendment to open campuses abroad. IIMB has been waiting since 2006 to open a campus in Singapore. However, the approval comes with a caveat: the institute will not be allowed to divert its internal resources or government funds for any such ventures. Moreover, IIMB must fully satisfy internal demand before embarking on a foreign venture.</p>
<p>The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) delivered a mortal blow to IIM Bangalore's (IIMB) dreams of more autonomy, when it rejected several amendments to the institute's memorandum of association (MoA). <br /><br />The rejections come after the Mukesh Ambani-led Board of Governors approved the amendments and forwarded it to the Union government in January. <br /><br />Some proposals that have been rejected include giving powers to the board to appoint a director, removal of the government's suo moto powers to launch an inquiry and allowing IIMB to award degrees. <br /><br />IIMB's proposal regarding appointment of a director is strange, considering that the directors of all IIMs including that of Bangalore, agreed only late last year to a collegium-based appointment system. Similarly, the proposal to allow IIMB to award degrees is also odd. In India, only universities created by an act of law or declared a deemed university can present degrees, and IIMB is neither.<br /><br />One area where the government has not disappointed IIMB is in approving the amendment to open campuses abroad. IIMB has been waiting since 2006 to open a campus in Singapore. However, the approval comes with a caveat: the institute will not be allowed to divert its internal resources or government funds for any such ventures. Moreover, IIMB must fully satisfy internal demand before embarking on a foreign venture.</p>
