LS approves bill that gives Centre more say in IIMs

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed a bill that seeks to make changes in the law that governs the administration and running of IIMs, even as Opposition members and experts raised concerns that the legislation could limit the autonomy of India's premier business schools.

- Fareeha Iftikhar

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) (Amendment) bill 2023 which makes amendments in the 2017 IIM Act names the President as the "Visitor" of IIMs, and empowers the "Visitor" to nominate the chairperson of the board of governors, oversee appointment and removal of directors, and audit the functioning of the institutes. There are 20 IIMs in the country.

The government dismissed apprehensions that the legislation could see its interference with the autonomy of the institutes.

The bill was tabled by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the Lower House on July 28 but could not be taken up for discussion amid protests over the Manipur violence. It was passed by a voice vote on Friday.

Replying to the debate on the bill, Pradhan said the government has brought the legislation to ensure "management accountability" of IIMs and also asserted that it has "no intention of interfering with their autonomy".