Roorkee Univ better than IITs, says Joshi

If Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi is to be believed, the quality of education at Roorkee University is better than any Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

Comparing statistics of annual spending of IITs and Roorkee University, the minister said today the quality of research at Roorkee was no less than any IIT. The annual budget for each IIT is Rs 70-80 crore, against Rs 16 crore for Roorkee.

He also said almost all chairmen of state electricity boards were products of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), which had paltry reserves.

Speaking to students at the convocation of the Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management, Joshi said the demand of the students of Indian Institutes of Management not to slash tuition fees was "illogical". The ministry would go ahead with its decision, he said.

Joshi's comments followed views expressed by students of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, that reduction in tuition fees would only lead to a fall in standards.