IIMs may become autonomous body soon

According to sources, "The HRD minister Kapil Sibal, during his recent visit to Gujarat has mentioned that HRD will no more intervene in the decision making of Indian Insititute of Managements. This implies that the IIMs will soon be declared as fully autonomous body."

If this happens then, IIMs at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Indore and Kozhikode will be among the first four institutes (of the nine IIMs) to begin enjoying a fully autonomous status.

It has been a long wait for the IIMs in getting the status of autonomous bodies. It was during the tenure of former director, IIMA, Bakul Dholakia that the issue of declaring IIMs as an autonomy body had cropped up. At present, the IIMs are dependent on the HRD ministry for the smallest of decisions concerning the institute.

After becoming autonomous, there will be less number of board members. Other powers awarded to the IIMs may include appointment of director, for which the institute will have to submit three names and the government will chose one .