"Neither the Central government nor state governments have closed those colleges. Students verify the gradation during admission time. When they find poor gradation, they choose not to join those colleges. Ultimately, they are closed," the Union Minister of State for HRD said at the All India Vice Chancellors' conference held here as part of the centenary celebrations of the Osmania University.
He said that as many as 400 engineering colleges have been closed in the country due to the lack of standards resulting in their poor gradation.
"Due to foresightedness of people like Nizam (the ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad State) and Madanmohan Malaviya, the institutions such as Osmania University and Banaras Hindu University came into existence," he said.
Assuring all possible help form his Ministry, Pandey appealed to VCs to make appropriate suggestions so that they can be taken up by the government.