NEW DELHI: Over 300 private engineering colleges would be asked to stop operations from the 2018-19 academic session. As per AICTE website, there are close to 3,000 private engineering colleges offering undergraduate courses in India, with an intake capacity of 13.56 lakh. Of these, there are around 800 engineering colleges whose enrolment percentage is less than 50%.According to HRD sources, of the over 300 institutions which would be asked to close operations as engineering colleges, over 150 have less than 20% enrolment.According to the chairperson of the AICTE, the council has asked those colleges with less than 30% enrolment to work out alternate options. Taking a holistic view, those institutions which are border line cases may not be asked to close down but they will be asked to choose alternate options on their own. "The Council would give options like converting the engineering colleges to science colleges, skill development centres or vocational education institutions.

Source: Times of India December 01, 2017 20:37 UTC