Union Cabinet approves eight new IITs

The Union Cabinet on Thursday has approved the setting up eight new Indian Institutes of Technology(IITs) and upgrading the Institute of Technology of Benaras Hindu University to an IIT. The new IITs will be set up in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The Union Cabinet has also approved amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics(Amendment) Bill, 2005, pending in the Rajya Sabha. Also approved for the upgrade and strengthening of 5,000 kilometers of single, intermediate and two-lane national highways to two-lane with paved shoulders. This upgrade will be carried out under National Highway Development Project (NHDP)Phase IV-A at an estimate of cost of Rs.6,950 crore.

Other important decisions were also taken by the Union Cabinet including:

• Creation of posts of director and medical superintendent in six AIIMS-like institutions, to be set up in Bihar, Orissa, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.

• Rs. 1,280.96 crore for six launches of the Geo Synchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) between 2010 and 2012.

• Singing of a memorandum of understanding between Kathmandu-based International Centre for Intergrated Mountain Development and Gobin Vallabh Pant Institute of Himalalayan Environment and Development in Almora.

• Signing of an extradition treaty with Brazil.