About 588 colleges in India have been denied permission by AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) to admit student in various programs for the academic year 2015-16, out of which 31 of these institutions are in Tamil Nadu. The reason pointed by the AICTE for the denying approval is bad infrastructure, shortage of faculty and poor academic performance. 

Institutes across the country that offer technical studies- engineering, diploma, pharmaceutical studies and several other courses, have to seek the permission of the AICTE (All India Technical education Council) to admit students every year. The colleges have to upload the details on a portal, which will be verified by the apex body. The approval is mandatory for technical institutions to commence a new academic year. The council had received many applicants requesting permission to start new courses and continue with the existing courses for the academic year 2015-16.

When technical institutions sought approval for their courses for the academic year 2015-16, the AICTE found that 588 institutions did not satisfy the norms. "This is a routine process and every institution is expected to upload relevant documents and records while applying for approval. If documents pertaining to any norm are not available or not satisfactory, the application is rejected," an AICTE official said. The official said most institutions did not satisfy the infrastructure norms or were short on faculty. "From 2011-12 to 2014-15, many institutions have applied for an increase in intake. We have found problems like shortage of faculty and lack of enough classrooms and laboratories in many of the colleges," the official added.

Principal of one of the 31 colleges in Tamil Nadu that have been denied approval said, "The demand for the course was depleting, and last year we had applied to reduce the intake. This year we have asked the AICTE to scrap the department itself."

While there are some top institutions on the list, experts say it is because one of their courses has been denied approval. "There are two good colleges on the list. In each, one course did not satisfy the norms, but they are among the top 20 institutions in the state," said a professor of a private engineering college.

Experts said it’s an indication of AICTE's attempts to improve quality in engineering education. "This is good move from the AICTE. In January this year, they made a rule that colleges can apply for an increase in intake only in courses accredited by NBA. Now, a strict verification of documents shows their intent on maintaining quality," said educational consultant Moorthy Selvakumar.