Fifty two engineering institutes were closed in the country in 2011-12 and 2012-13 academic years affecting 194 students, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Friday.
The All India Council for Technical Education has received 25 applications for closure of engineering institutes, Minister of State for HRD Jitin Prasada said during Question Hour.
"The number of students affected in 2011-12 and 2012-13 is 194," he said, adding students from these closed institutes are given admission in adjoining affiliated colleges.
Salary of the faculty, he said, can be recovered from the security amount deposited with AICTE by the institute. Institutions close due reasons like lack of students or non-adherence to norms prescribed by AICTE.
He said the number of seats reduced due to closure of 17 engineering colleges in 2012-13 is 3,052 and against this, 95 new engineering colleges have been approved, adding 27,060 seats.
In 2011-12, 10,411 seats were reduced due to closure of 35 institutes and against this, 178 new engineering colleges were approved, adding 51,900 seats.
Prasada said efforts are being made to utilise the infrastructure in institutes for providing skill training after regular classes are over.
There are 3,028 institutes conducting diploma level programmes, 3,357 conducting under graduate programmes, 1,901 conducting post graduation and 54 institutions conducting post diploma programs in engineering and technology in the country.
The minister said that to provide financial assistance to technical institutions, AICTE offers a number of schemes.
