Technical education plays an important role in the overall development of a nation and so has been its role in our country too. In India, Technical education is imparted at different levels- certificate, diploma, degree, post graduate diploma, post graduate degree, research, post doctoral research etc.
Technical education in India started around mid 19th century. The major policy decision in pre independence era includes -
- appointment of the India University Commission : 1902
- issue of the Indian Education Policy : 1904
- Governor Generals policy statement - importance of technical education : 1913
- the establishment of
IISC Bangalore, Institute of Sugar- Kanpur, Textile & Leather Technology Kanpur, N.C.E. in Bengal (1905) and Industrial schools in different states.
Other pre-independence developments include-
- Formation of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) : 1943
- Preparation of Sergeant report : 1944, and
- Establishment of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) :1945
The AICTE - All India Council for Technical Education was established in 1945 by Government of India. The organization was set up as an Apex Advisory Body to conduct survey on facilities on technical education and to promote and develop technical education in the country. National policy of Education (1986) defines AICTE as the statutory authority for planning, formulation and maintenance of norms and standards, quality assurance through accreditation, funding in priority areas, monitoring and evaluation, maintaining parity of certification and awards and ensuring coordinated and integrated development and management of technical education in the country. Government of India - Ministry of Human Resource Development constituted a nationalised group to check into the responsibility of AICTE in the context of proliferation of technical institutions, maintenance of standards and other related matters.
The purview of All India Council for Technical Education - AICTE covers program of technical education including training and research in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Town Planning, Management, Pharmacy, Applied Arts and Crafts, Hotel Management and Catering Technology etc. at different levels.
In accordance with the provisions of AICTE act (1987) for the first five years after its inception in 1988, the Minister of Human Resource Development - Government of India was the Chairman of the Council. However, the first full time chairman was appointed on July 1993. The AICTE has its Headquarters in New Delhi which has the offices of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the Member Secretary and is presently housed in a building having a covered area of 38542 sq. ft. located in Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Indraprastha Estate, New Delhi.
AICTE continuously strives to maintain the quality of technical education in the country. The National Board of Accreditation - NBA of AICTE aims to maintain level of some of the program offered in technical Institutions on par with program offered in Institutions across USA and Europe, by inducing a quality auditing system and establishing a datum for measuring the quality and excellence in engineering education. The AICTE comprises of nine Bureaus, namely:
- Faculty Development (FD) Bureau
- Undergraduate Education (UG) Bureau
- Postgraduate Education and Research (PGER) Bureau
- Quality Assurance (QA) Bureau
- Planning and Co-ordination (PC) Bureau
- Research and Institutional Development (RID) Bureau
- Administration (Admin) Bureau
- Finance (Fin) Bureau
- Academic (Acad.) Bureau
For each Bureau, Adviser is the Bureau Head who is assisted by technical officers and other supporting staff. The multidiscipline technical officer and staff of the Council are on deputation or on contract from various Government Departments, University Grants Commission, academic institutions etc.