Major decision by AICTE: 58 engineering colleges across the country to shut down; find out the reason..

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has taken a major decision aimed at improving the quality of technical education in the country. The Council has approved the phased closure of 58 engineering and technical colleges across India for the 2025-26 academic session. This decision targets institutions that failed to secure adequate student admissions or did not meet AICTE's prescribed academic and infrastructural standards. However, the Council has clarified that the studies of students currently enrolled in these colleges will not be affected, and they will be able to complete their courses at the same institution.

**No impact on current students' studies**
Under this process, new admissions to these institutions will be halted, but the studies of students already enrolled will continue. The AICTE has stated that students currently studying in the colleges approved for closure will be able to complete their degrees at those same institutions. The colleges will remain operational until all students in the current batches complete their courses. The objective of this arrangement is to safeguard the students' future.

**Reasons for the decision**
According to the Council, many institutions had been witnessing consistently low admissions. Additionally, this step was taken due to shortcomings such as a shortage of qualified teachers, a lack of essential infrastructure, and non-compliance with AICTE's academic and administrative standards. During this same period, over 950 engineering and technical courses across the country have also been discontinued.

**States with the highest number of closures**
In terms of states, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have the highest number of colleges approved for closure, with 12 each. They are followed by Madhya Pradesh (8), Telangana and Punjab (4 each), and Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan (3 each). Two colleges each will be closed in a phased manner in Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal, while one college will be closed in Puducherry.

**What is the difference between phased closure and complete closure?**
The AICTE has clarified that phased closure and complete closure are distinct processes. In a phased closure, only new admissions are halted, while the studies of existing students continue. In contrast, a complete closure results in the institution shutting down entirely, with students being transferred to other colleges. Through this mechanism, the council aims to safeguard students' interests while maintaining the quality of technical education.

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