The Hindu : Front Page : IIM-A fee doubled to Rs. 5.5 lakh

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Sunday, Mar 30, 2008
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IIM-A fee doubled to Rs. 5.5 lakh

Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD: The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, on Saturday announced a quantum jump in its fees structure raising it from the present Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum to Rs. 5.5 lakh per annum for the first year and Rs. 6 lakh for the second year of the two-year post-graduate programme in management.

The decision was taken at the annual meeting of the Board of governors of the IIM-A held here on Saturday just before its 43rd annual convocation later in the evening addressed by the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

The fee hike will be applicable to students joining the two-year course in June this year, a brief press release signed by the Chairman of the Board of governors and society of the IIM-A, Vijaypat Singhania, said. The institution, however, reiterated its commitment to support eligible students from the economically weaker sections. No student, if found eligible for admission to the IIM-A, would be deprived of the opportunity purely for financial reasons, he said.

In view of the fee hike, the Board also decided to increase the family income limit for eligibility for financial support from Rs. 2 lakh per annum to Rs. 6 lakh. “Graded need-based financial aid will be available to eligible students who qualify for financial support,” Mr. Singhania said.

Despite reports that both the Central and the State government nominees on the IIM-A Board were opposed to such astronomical rise in fees at one go, a spokesman of the IIM-A claimed that the fee hike decision was “unanimous.” The spokesman claimed that the government nominees were present at the Board meeting and agreed to the proposal.

Contrary to the conventions, the IIM-A avoided convening a conference this year to brief the media on the decisions, apparently fearing a barrage of questions from the media. A major part of the discussion at the Board meeting was dominated by the fee structure, which remained a contentious issue in view of the huge jump proposed at one stroke.

The spokesman claimed that the existing fee structure was “not cost effective” and did not allow “efficient functioning” of the institution. The spokesman, however, could not give the cost structure at the existing rate to justify the fee hike.

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