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Context:

• The Lok Sabha passed a Bill that seeks to accord special status to six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research as well as set up a council for these institutes.

Objective  of the Bill:

• declare six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research as ‘Institutions of National Importance’
• to enable the Centre to set up a council for these institutes and to streamline the board of governors of each such institute while widening the scope and number of courses run by them 
• It will provide for coordination of the activities of such institutes to ensure syncing of how pharmaceutical education and research progresses in the country and enable the maintenance of standards.

About Institute of National Importance:

• an ‘Institution of National Importance‘ implies an autonomous institute set up by an Act of Parliament,
• empowered to hold examinations,
• grant degrees and other academic distinctions or titles,
• receive funding from the central government.

Important Proposals in the Bill

Establishment of the Council: 

• The Bill 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,
• examining annual budget estimates of the institutes for recommendations to the central government for allocation of funds.

Composition of the Council: 

The Council will include:

• the Minister in charge of the Ministry or department of the central government having administrative control of pharmaceuticals (ex officio), as the Chairperson,
• the Minister of State of the Ministry or department of the central government having administrative control of the pharmaceuticals (ex officio), as the Vice-Chairperson,
• the Chairperson of each Board of Governors (ex officio),
• the Director of every institute (ex officio),
• the Chairperson of All India Council for Technical Education (ex officio),
• the Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (ex officio),
• three Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha). 

Tenure:

• The term of office of an ex officio member will continue till he holds the office by virtue of which he is a member. 
• Other members of the Council will have a term of three years in office. 

Board of Governors: 

• The Act constituted a Board of Governors for control and management of the institute’s affairs.  The Act specifies 23 members in the Board.

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