New Delhi, Dec 17 (NationPress) On Wednesday, a significant meeting took place at Parliament House between Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan. The focus of the discussions was on enhancing higher and school education in the Kota-Bundi region of Rajasthan.

The session included thorough and constructive dialogues regarding the expansion of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Kota, alongside comprehensive reforms aimed at elevating the quality of school education in the area.

Om Birla emphasized Kota’s prominence as one of India's leading education centers, noting that approximately 1.5 lakh students from various parts of the country flock to Kota annually for preparations for engineering and medical entrance exams.

He pointed out the robust road and rail infrastructure, coupled with improving air connectivity, asserting that it is crucial to enhance IIIT Kota in accordance with top IIT standards.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan revealed that a long-term strategy will be devised to boost IIIT Kota’s student capacity to 25,000 seats over the next decade.

The strategy encompasses extensive institutional growth, the establishment of Centres of Excellence, and the incorporation of modern, future-oriented academic programs.

Key areas of focus include Artificial Intelligence, Green Energy, and cutting-edge technologies that align with global employment demands, as well as the establishment of AI research centers, pump storage technology, and atomic studies.

He highlighted that the natural resources of the Chambal River region, along with the proximity to the Rawatbhata Atomic Power Plant, make Kota an ideal location for technical and energy-based education.

Given these strengths, the development of IIIT Kota into a model institution of its kind in the nation is proposed, with the aim of positioning Kota as a national hub for higher education and technology.

To accelerate this initiative, the Union Education Minister ordered the formation of a special committee that will present its recommendations within a month.

Om Birla also addressed the need for enhancing school education standards within the Kota–Bundi parliamentary constituency. He advocated for the widespread implementation of the 'Know Your Constitution' program in schools to instill constitutional values in students.

Moreover, he proposed encouraging talented students nationwide to visit Parliament through a competitive selection process, thereby enriching their understanding of democratic institutions.

The meeting also discussed vital matters like increasing the number of PM Shri Schools in the Kota-Bundi area, boosting central support for Rajasthan’s education budget, and broadening access to quality education.

Attending the meeting were senior officials, including Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy; Vineet Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education; Rahul Singh, Chairman of CBSE; and Prof. N. P. Padhi, Director of IIIT Kota, along with senior officers from the Rajasthan Education Department and officials from the Lok Sabha Secretariat.