New Delhi, Lok Sabha on Monday passed a Bill to declare six additional National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research as Institutions of National Importance, and to create a Council to oversee activities of these institutes.
The institutes being declared as Institutes of National Importance are located in Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Hajipur (Bihar), Hyderabad (Telangana), Kolkata (West Bengal), Guwahati (Assam), and Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh).
An Institution of National Importance refers to an autonomous institute established under an Act, with the power to hold examinations, grant degrees, diplomas and other academic distinctions or titles. These institutes receive funding from the central government.
The Bill also provides for a Council to coordinate the activities among the institutes under the Bill to ensure development of pharmaceutical education and research and maintenance of standards.
Functions of the Council include, advising on matters related to course duration, and admission standards in the institutes, formulating policies for recruitment, conditions of service, and fees, examining and approving development plans of the institutes, and examining annual budget estimates of the institutes for recommendations to the central government for allocation of funds.
Moving the Bill for passing in Lok Sabha, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that NIPER institutes opened in future will also be considered Institutes of National Importance.
He said NIPER will also help small pharmaceutical companies in research, which will also generate funds for the institutes.
The Minister added that the Council that will be formed under the Bill will help in coordinating these institutes, and also give them mandate for research and other activities.
The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha through voice vote.