The Lok Sabha passed the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Bill 2014 yesterday. The bill envisages granting the status of national importance to the four Indian Institutes of Information Technology, IIIT, based at Allahabad, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Kanchipuram. Replying to the debate, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said that the governance structure of these institutes will be at par with the Indian Institutes of Technology.

She said, the step will help strengthen the functioning of the institutes and enrich the faculties. The Minister also said, the four-tier pay structure will be introduced in IIITs to attract the best faculty. In reply to a question, Mrs. Irani said the government has launched a scheme called, 'Pragati', to provide scholarships to girl students of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minority communities to enable them pursue technical education.