The government today charged the BJP-led opposition with stalling the passage of key legislations in higher education by not allowing Parliament to function. Talking to the media after a round table on government-industry partnership on setting up of theme-based innovations in New Delhi today, Mr Sibal expressed regret that the opposition parties did not allow discussion on these bills despite being cleared by Parliament’s Standing Committee. He said the passage of the National Accreditation Authority Bill and Prohibition of Unfair Practices Bill would have paved way for ensuring quality in higher education institutes in matters of admission and charging of capitation fee.

Earlier, Mr Sibal called upon the industry to partner with the government and All India Council for Technical Education, AICTE, for setting up theme-based innovation centres which could cater to problems in different sectors. He expressed hope that the gross enrolment ratio, GER, would touch 30 per cent by 2020. Mr Sibal the Planning Commission has also accepted that the GER figure would reach 27 per cent by 2017.