IIT-M launches Ph.D. scholarship programme

A Ph.D. scholarship programme was launched at the Indian Institute of Technology – Madras, recently to provide the next generation of researchers in India and Melbourne world-class academic supervision and support.

The Melbourne-India Postgraduate Programme (MIPP) will link the University of Melbourne with leading research institutes in India – Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore (IISC), Indian Institute of Technology – Kanpur (IITK) and Indian Institute of Technology – Madras (IITM).

The $3 million programme, a joint initiative of the four institutions would provide 16 Ph.D. scholarships and associated support for research exchanges for the next three years. The programme will commence in 2014 and will be open to Ph. D. students enrolled at the University Of Melbourne, to be co-supervised by staff at IITK, IITM or IISC. Students enrolled in one of the three Indian institutions will have access to co-supervision with Melbourne academics.

Prof. Glyn Davis, vice-chancellor, Melbourne University, said the new programme was a value addition to Melbourne’s extensive scholarship offerings.

Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT-Madras, said, “IIT-Madras looks forward to very productive collaboration between faculties of both the institutions with a vibrant student exchange programme at all levels, particularly the research scholars.”

Prof. R. Nagarajan, Dean, International and Alumni Relations, IIT-Madras, said, “IIT-Madras has embarked on a systematic programme of research collaboration with leading universities across the globe. We envision a four-stage process, starting with faculty interaction, leading to research scholar exchanges and joint supervision of Ph.Ds, culminating over time in joint doctorate programs.”

HRD sets up panel to screen graft plaints

Faced with regular instances of allegation of corruption and other misdemeanors against the heads of central educational institutions like IITs, IIMs, NITs and central universities, the HRD ministry has set up a committee for initial scrutiny of the complaints against them and other senior functionaries.

The ministry has argued that whenever the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) gets a complaint it directs the ministry to conduct an investigation and give the report usually within 12 weeks. The ministry said its vigilance wing also receive complaints from other sources as well against officials, including certain vice-chancellors of the universities and chairmen of the NITs/IIMs/IITs. It said, "In the absence of any special mechanism in place to look into the allegations investigation is assigned to ministry officials. Some of the heads of the institutions, including vice-chancellors against whom such complaints are lodged and investigation is ordered by the CVC, are renowned academics and a fact finding enquiry against them by an officer of the ministry who are not of sufficient higher level often embarrasses not only the person investigated against but also the officer conducting such an inquiry."

The ministry said it has also been found that many complaints are found to emanate not on merits of the allegations but out of inter-personal academic rivalries.The new committee will conduct a preliminary scrutiny of such complaints and also consider the response on the allegations leveled in the complaints to decide whether a full-fledged inquiry is called for. The panel will consist of people who are still active in the university system and have sufficient experience.In recent times, former director of IIT, Kharagpur and some of its senior professors and director IIT, Patna have been investigated on several charges. There are allegations of corruption against vice-chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi International Hindu University, Wardha, as well as various other central government educational institutions.

No-show by US companies at campus placements, techies worried

American presence at India's campus placements this year will be conspicuous by its absence. Apart from Facebook that isn't visiting any of the IITs, most US companies that do not have operations in India have not registered for placements at the country's tech schools. There's no trace yet of Twitter, which paid big bucks in the last recruitment season. Slot Zero, the promising opening day of campus placements on December 1, has probably never looked less American. 

While most students and faculty members were tight-lipped about the no-show of American companies, several job aspirants said the US visa issue last year was a great concern and many American companies that hire in large numbers—and with big pay packets—had decided to stay away from Indian engineering college campuses now. Last year, the annual quota of 65,000 H1-B work visas were snapped up by job-immigrants even before graduating techies had their first degree in hand, forcing many to take an unpaid vacation to work at the US companies' India offices or fly to another country for a year. 

Smart IITians who fear a similar repeat occurrence this time around are filling up forms and making alternative profile plans, both local and international. 

"There are more Japanese firms coming to IIT-Bombay than companies with operations solely in the USA," said Avijit Chaterjee, chairman of IIT-Bombay's placement cell. Japanese firms like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Uhuru Software and Sony Japan have made their way to the top slots. 
Apart from that, the bad economy has seen little attrition; most companies said they have fewer vacancies to fill. 

IIT-Madras placement advisor Babu Viswanathan said getting a US visa was a big problem last year but it is too early to say if there will be a "noticeable drop" in students who will be offered a profile in the US this year too. "Also," he cautioned, "companies can have a change of mind and may decide to come anytime during the placement process." 

Sources at IIT-Delhi said, "Two large IT companies with operations in the US are not coming; that is our biggest loss. But there are about five new international companies coming for the first time, including some Japanese ones." 


Comparing notes over dim sum, graduating students at IIT-Kanpur underwent a semester-long language course. Students picked up the Japanese language and a few finer details of Japanese culture so that they are better prepared for interviews. By January, this college will release a placement brochure in Japanese, apart from one in English. 


The placement team in Kanpur has forecast that technology, politics and economic factors will alter the geographical distribution of companies coming on their campus and a multi-lingual placement brochure— with students' profiles in German, French, Japanese and English—will be released from next year. 
Among the American companies that have promised to come this year are gaming company Pocket Gems, Epic Systems, Rocket Fuel and Tower Research. Then there are US firms like Microsoft, Google, Oracle, Schlumberger that have registered; however, they will pick fewer candidates, many for their India offices. "These companies have a good relation with the campuses and they may come and pick a student or two," said a student on the placement committee. 


There was a time when computer science students were high currency; they were plucked by companies that offered them dollar dreams and flew them out no sooner they graduated. This year, with not many greenbacks arriving, candidates from other branches are feeling the heat too. "If CS students are all not going to get absorbed by IT firms, consulting and finance companies are going to fall over each other to bag them. That is going to affect candidates from other branches that are not so popular," said a student. 
Clearly, many things are working to alter the placement landscape. Recruitment season on Indian campuses, said an optimist placement member, is going to get a more global flavour. 

IIT-JEE 2014: Examination fees

Candidates appearing for IIT-JEE 2014 can check the examination fees here.

The fee can be remitted by Debit/Credit Card. Through e-Challan generated after successful submission of online application form. The fee through e-Challan may be deposited in any branch of Syndicate Bank, Canara Bank and ICICI Bank.

	Offline Exam	Online Exam
Paper	Center in India
OBC or General	PwD or ST or SC	OBC or General	PwD or ST or SC
Either JEE Main Paper 1 or JEE Main Paper 2	500 (Girls) 1000 (Boys)	500 (Girls) 500 (Boys)	300 (Girls) 600 (Boys)	300 (Girls) 300 (Boys)
Both JEE Main Paper 1 and Paper 2	900 (Girls) 1800 (Boys)	900 (Girls) 900 (Boys)	700 (Girls) 1400 (Boys)	700 (Girls) 700 (Boys)

Online Application has to be submitted through JEE (Main)-2014 website. The aspiring candidate should furnish all the details and upload scanned image of his/her photograph and signature while filling up the ‘On-line’ application.

Candidates are required to take a print out of the computer generated acknowledgement slip.

After successful submission of data and payment of fees and keep the same in the safe custody for any future reference.

IIT-Delhi to set up research academy in Mauritius; expansion in Sonepat and Jhajjar

Expansion and improving its global image are twin goals Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is currently focused on. Thirty-eighth amongst 300 institutions in Asia with its electrical and mechanical engineering departments topping the QS World University Rankings, the institution has constituted a four-member committee to work towards improving its global position.

IIT is also setting up a research academy in Mauritius by the end of the current academic year. With land having been allocated for its two extension campuses in Sonepat and Jhajjar, it's also planning a number of centres and executive programmes there.

Speaking about expansion plans and setting its first footprint abroad, IIT Delhi director R K Shevgaonkar said it has formalized setting up an IIT Delhi Research Academy in collaboration with the Mauritius government.

Back home, IIT is planning a number of centres including one on cyber security. "We are coming up with a cyber systems and information assurance centre in collaboration with University of Nebraska. We are also coming up with a policy research centre, partially funded by the department of science and technology," he said.

The IIT is having its 44th convocation on Saturday in which President Pranab Mukherjee will be the chief guest. He will inaugurate an innovation exhibition before conferring the alumni awards. This year, the institute will confer degrees to 1,793 students.

IIT, Delhi, forms committee to coordinate with world ranking

As part its efforts to position itself among the top in the global ranking list, IIT, Delhi, has set up a four-member body to coordinate with ranking agencies and provide appropriate information and data sought for. 

The move comes in the backdrop of the HRD Ministry setting up of an 18-member committee to review existing arrangements, develop a strategy and a framework for research evaluation to drive up research activities, the lack of which is hampering Indian institutions from featuring in the global ranking list. 

A group of IIT Delhi professors would be engaged in a more focussed activity, understand the relevant information sought by the ranking bodies and provide inputs in proper format, IIT, Delhi, Director R K Shevgaonkar told reporters here. 

Coordination among the peers, the faculties and alumni is the other objective of the group as providing correct information is important for the rankings, he said. 

According to Times Higher Education's (THE) World University Rankings list 2013-14, IIT, Delhi, along with IIT, Kanpur, IIT, Kharagpur and IIT, Roorkee, are clubbed in the group of institutions between 351-400. 

The QS world university ranking puts IIT, Delhi, at 222. 

Concerns over absence of any of India's institutes among the top has been flagged several times by President Pranab Mukherjee who would be attending IIT Delhi's 44th convocation function tomorrow. 

The institute, considered among the best in the country, would be having a Centre of Policy Studies to evolve policies for science and technology. It would be set up under the Department of Humanities. 

It would also set up a Centre for Cyber Security in collaboration with the University of Nebraska, an MoU for which is expected to be signed early next year. 

"The Centre wanted that we should have research on cyber security given that it is a big challenge in the coming days for national security of the country," the IIT Director said. 

Ministries of Home and HRD are supporting the IIT in this endeavour.