Grant of eminence tag to Jio Institute sparks row

Grant of the Institute of Eminence tag to yet-to-be-established 'Jio Institute' of the Reliance Foundation by the Centre drew objections on Monday from the teaching community and various sections on social media.

HRD ministry officials, however, clarified that the empowered committee, set up to clear the proposals for establishment of 10 Institutes of Eminence in public sector and another 10 in private sector, selected the Reliance Foundation's proposal to set up the 'Jio Institute' as "greenfield venture" which was part of the scheme's policy.

While the government faced huge criticism over grant of the IoE tag to the Reliance Foundation's Jio Institute on Twitter as the news began trending on the microblogging site, various sections of teachers and academicians also joined the chorus, questioning the government's decision.

“We unambiguously object to the HRD ministry's announcement of the list of eminent institutions and the inclusion of Jio Institute in this list,” Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) president Rajib Ray said.

DUTA secretary Vivek Choudhary questioned the government's decision, saying grant of IoE tag to the Jio Institute makes “a mockery of the whole exercise.”

“As of today, Jio only exists as a proposal. It has no record of academic or socially relevant accomplishments The inclusion of inclusion of clauses which allow paper proposals to qualify as an eminent institution is an academic corruption of highest order. It is turning a government scheme as a promotion for a private player,” Ray said.

Under the UGC (Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 20I7, private entities were eligible for applying for IoE tag as “greenfield ventures,” provided they meet all the requirements as stipulated in the regulations and UGC guidelines.

This is same for the private entities to be applying for establishment of a brand new institution under the scheme as green field venture. Besides such applicants had to show “a credible plan” for additional provision of Rs 1,000 crore, instead of Rs 500 crore required in the case of existing private institutions.

“The empowered committee has approved Reliance Foundation's proposal following the rules and guidelines,” a ministry official said, defending the government's decision.

A total of 11 proposals had come from the private entities for establishment of an Institute of Eminence as green field venture under the scheme.

“Jio Institute was selected after a through scrutiny of the Reliance Foundation's project proposal,” the official added.