IIM Bill Approved By The Cabinet - Fully Autonomous IIMs Can Now Award Degrees

The IIMs will be 'Board-driven' and the HRD Ministry will not take any decisions regarding appointments and selections or regarding any other day to day administration. The Director and the Chairperson of each IIM will run the show.

We must point out though that at least 5 IIMs are still operating with stand-in directors and no permanent appointments have been made so far. Will we see swifter action on that front too now?

Below, is the tweet by HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar

Historic decision to give IIMs real autonomy&grant degrees.We trust excellence&quality.This reflects vision of ModiGovt for higher education

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) January 24, 2017

Despite the controversy and the hue and cry around certain clauses, the IIMs should be happy about the outcome and the HRD Ministry should be complimented on getting the job done. We still haven't heard from the directors and chairpersons of the IIMs but we would believe that they would welcome the news.

Cabinet passing a bill doesn't mean it is a law yet. It needs to be approved by both houses of Parliament now. We would be very surprised to see degrees being given out in the convocation season this year in March instead of diplomas.