JNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dhulipady Pandit says that by getting this tag, we will get financial help of ₹ 1,000 crore, which will reduce the financial crunch of the university to a great extent.

A standing committee of Parliament has recommended expanding the scope of the government's Institution of Eminence (IoE) scheme to include Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in it. This suggestion was given by the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports in its report on the grant demands of the Department of Higher Education for the financial year 2025-26.

What is the IoE scheme?

The government launched the Institution of Eminence (IoE) scheme in 2017, through which Indian higher education institutions are included in global rankings and are given more freedom. Under this scheme, financial assistance of up to ₹ 1,000 crore is also given to government universities, so that they can improve research capabilities and infrastructure in their universities.

Why does JNU want IoE tag?

JNU Vice Chancellor Professor Dhulipady Pandit had expressed concern about the financial challenges of the university last year. He had said that "We have been demanding the 'Eminence' tag for a long time. If we get this tag, we will get financial help of ₹ 1,000 crore, which will reduce the financial crunch of the university to a great extent."

How many institutions have got the IoE tag so far?

So far, only eight public institutions have been given this prestigious tag. The parliamentary committee not only recommended the inclusion of JNU in this list but also suggested that colleges under universities that have already received the IoE tag should also be given more freedom. Institutions like Delhi University (DU) are expected to benefit from this. If JNU gets the IoE tag, it will not only get financial help but the university will also get more freedom in curriculum and administrative decisions.