Fees for NIT, IISER Courses Hiked by HRD Ministry

HRD Ministry has given its nod to the proposal demanding the fee hike in the National Institutes of Technology (NIT). Not long ago the ministry approved fees hike in IITs. The fees of NITs will be raised from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh per annum, starting from the academic session 2016.

An Official stated, “The fee hike will only be for new students who will take admission this year and not for those who are already studying.”

Fees for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses has been raised. Apart from this, fees of the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) had also been increased from Rs 15,000 per semester to Rs 25,000 per semester.

The fee hike in NITs will only be applicable to students getting admission under the general category. Students belonging to differently-abled, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) community and those who have a family annual income less than Rs 1 lakh will be offered a total fee waiver.

Students, who have an annual family income of less than Rs 5 lakh can also apply for a fee waiver of two-thirds the amount. The ministry has not mentioned if these exemptions will be applicable to the students of IISERs.

Students can also benefit from the ‘Vidya Lakshmi Scheme’ and apply for interest-free loan.

The ministry stated that the fees hike is being implemented in order to enhance the quality of technical education and increase the resources of these institutions.

Admissions for the academic session 2016 have begun at NITs. There are 31 NITs including the new ones and six IISERs in the country.