Parliament Passes National Institute of Design (Amendment) Bill [Read Bill]

The bill was first introduced during the Monsoon session of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha by the Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and was passed by the upper house on August 6.

It seeks to amend the National Institute of Design Act, 2014, which declares the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad as an institution of national importance and proposes to declare National Institutes of Design in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Haryana as institutions of national importance. Presently, these institutes are registered as Societies and do not have the power to grant degrees or diplomas. On being declared institutions of national importance, they will be granted the power to grant degrees and diplomas.

During the discussion in Parliament, MP Shashi Tharoor said that it was not important to merely confer a title of national importance on an institute, but rather, to assess that on what yardstick the title should be given. "What have they done to earn it?" Throor remarked.

Many members also demanded setting up of NIDs in their states to help create skilled manpower and generate job opportunities.

AITC MP Satabdi Roy while endorsing the Bill, suggested that there should be scholarships for women, SC and ST candidates in these institutes.

The Bill will now be placed before the President to seek his assent, before it becomes a law.

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