The Lok Sabha has passed the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017. The Bill amends the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014. <br/><br/>It seeks to declare the Indian Institute of Technology, Design and Manufacturing at Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh as an institution of national importance. <br/><br/>The Bill also permits the Board of Governor of Institutes to appoint Assistant Professors and all the posts above that level as well. Replying to a debate on the bill, Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said, there is a need to focus on development of hardware sector. <br/><br/>He said, as far employability of the IIIT is concerned, its job growth is very good and there is a need to focus on case to case basis for further improvement. He said, the Centre does not discriminate with any states in setting up Central educational institutions. <br/><br/>Members of various parties including Pralhad Joshi of BJP, Sougata Roy of TMC, Ladu Kishore Swain of BJD, P K Biju of CPI(M) and Renuka Butta of YSRCP participated in the debate.