The Government intends to have a common examination for various under-graduate programmes across the country from 2013. Replying to a debate on a bill to amend the National Institutes of Technology Act on Friday in Lok Sabha, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said as per the merit, candidates would qualify for prestigious technical institutes. He told the Lok Sabha that the government will crack down on fake universities, the practice of taking capitation fee, misleading advertisements and other malpractices. The National Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2010, which proposes structural changes in educational establishments and bringing in its ambit the five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), was passed by a voice vote later. Mr. Sibal said that the bill aims to set up an independent mechanism to accredit the quality of higher education institutions. He informed that National Knowledge Network, is being set up to overcome the shortage of faculty. Mr. Sibal said efforts are on to provide equal opportunities to both rural and urban students. The Minister also informed that all panchayats across the country will be inter-connected and it will be possible to get quality education at the door step of the students.