Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday announced the launch of free online courses by premier institutes such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes Management (IIMs) from the current year.
She was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the IIM, Visakhapatnam, the first among 11 premier educational institutes promised for Andhra Pradesh in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, at Gambheeram on the outskirts of the city. The State government allotted 388 acres for the country’s 14th IIM, which will be mentored by the IIM, Bangalore.
The institute will function from the Andhra University campus till its own campus is ready. Admissions are under way for the academic year 2015-16.
Ms. Irani said that as part of the digital initiatives and education reforms launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, consultations on the New Education Policy would begin on January 26. A nominal fee would be charged for certification of various online courses. It would be free for people with special abilities and those belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
