The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) has officially confirmed the six per cent hike in fees for the 2013-15 batch of post-graduation course, on a day its counterpart IIM-Lucknow slashed it by 10 per cent.
Replying to Deccan Herald’s queries on the increase in fees, Aparna Datta, head of Communications, IIMB, said “The fees for the incoming batch of PGP 2013-15 has been increased to Rs 17 lakh for the two-year programme.” The earlier figure was Rs 15 lakh
This will cover tuition fees, hostel accommodation, health insurance, course and reading material, including cases and books, computing facilities, library and other academic and co-curricular expenditure.
The Press Trust of India, quoting IIM-Lucknow’s director Devi Singh, reported from Lucknow: “...The fees are being slashed by 10 per cent from the current Rs 12 lakh to Rs 10.8 lakh.”
J J Irani, chairman of the board of governors, was quoted as having said “in today’s environment, when education is becoming costlier, IIM Lucknow would like to take a lead. This decision will help many needy students to undertake education in institutions like ours.” In sharp contrast, the IIMB has maintained that the six per cent increase in fees was linked to current inflation and consumer indices.
Asked for his comments on the fee hike, IIMB director Pankaj Chandra said “I will not be able to say anything. I have not seen any news from Lucknow and I cannot comment on that.”
Another premier management institute, IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) has also increased the fees to Rs 16.6 lakh from Rs 15.5 lakh, an eight per cent increase.
However, speaking to Deccan Herald from Ahmedabad, IIMA Director Samir Barua said “it is true that we have increased the fees. But one has to look at it from our perspective.”
Stating that no other IIM educates people for free, he said that in the last five years, the IIMA, on an average is educating eight per cent of the students for free.
“Our fee structure is based on the income level. About 20-25 per cent of the students are charged Rs 0. And we also give fee waiver for those from income groups a little higher than this, extended up to a maximum of about 17 per ” Barua said, justifying the increase.
