IIM campus in Kashmir

The Government of India and the J &K government may open an off-site campus of the Indian Institute Management (IIM) in Kashmir.

Sources disclosed that GoI communique spelling details of Rs 80000 crore financial package announced by the Prime Minister NarendraModi in Srinagar on November 7 provides for the prospect of setting up an “offsite campus” of IIM Jammu in the Valley—something seen as balancing act by the Centre after announcing establishment of AIIMS in Jammu.

Under the package, Rs 1000 crore central assistance has been kept for establishment of IIM Jammu “with possibility of ‘out campus’ in the Valley”, official sources said.

A senior state government official said the idea of establishing off-site campus of IIM in Kashmir was exchanged with the GoI before finalization of the package. “The idea may be explored,” he said.

In 2015-16 Union budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced setting up of an the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and IIM in the State. While Jammu walked away with IIM, the government’s decision to establish AIIMS in Kashmir triggered protests in Jammu. This prompted the GoI to sanction another AIIMS for Jammu.