IIT Council Agrees to Accreditation, Framework Yet to Be Finalized

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Council, the apex coordination body for the country’s premier engineering institutions, has agreed to pursue institutional accreditation. However, clarity on the accrediting body and the modalities of the process is still awaited.

The decision was taken during a meeting on Monday, where officials highlighted that while the move aligns with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, several questions remain unresolved. A senior official from the Ministry of Education confirmed that the Council acknowledged the need for accreditation but has yet to finalize the mechanisms.

The NEP 2020 recommends the establishment of a National Accreditation Council (NAC) under the proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). The NAC is intended to serve as an overarching authority to standardize and oversee the accreditation process across higher education institutions in the country. However, as the HECI is yet to be formally established, the IITs face uncertainty over the immediate path forward.

Currently, accreditation in India is largely overseen by bodies such as the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Whether IITs will come under their purview or wait for NAC under HECI remains to be determined.

The IIT Council’s decision marks a significant step toward enhancing transparency and global competitiveness. Accreditation is expected to benchmark IITs against international standards, helping them strengthen academic quality, research output, and student outcomes.

For now, the Ministry of Education, along with the IIT Council, is expected to engage in further deliberations to finalize the framework and designate the appropriate accrediting body.