File picture of Union Minister Smriti Irani.
In a major relief for students, IITs and NITs may refund the acceptance fee after deducting minimal processing charges in case a student does not get admission in a preferred course, government said in Lok Sabha today.
In this regard, the central government has made a request to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs), HRD Minister Smriti Irani informed the House.
The Ministry has urged the IITs and NITs to "return the fee after taking minimalistic processing fee" to students who do not get admission for a preferred course, she said during the Question Hour.
The Minister's statement comes in the backdrop of simmering discontent among candidates who faced the prospects of forfeiting their tuition fee in this year's central counselling while giving up the allotted spots.
As per existing rule, they have to pay a non-refundable seat acceptance fee of Rs 45,000 in general category and Rs 20,000 in SC/ST category.
For the first time, the counselling for IITs, NITs and other centrally-funded technical institutes were conducted by Joint Seat Allocation Authority.
The Authority also held a meeting last Saturday to decide on an exit clause under which a candidate could give up their alloted seat for a better prospect in a different institute.