Ranchi, March 19: Unable to get a new IIT from the Centre, deputy chief minister Raghubar Das today endorsed the demand that the Indian School of Mines (ISM) in Dhanbad be given the IIT status.

The state government is of the view that the ISM perfectly fulfils all the criteria for being an IIT. In fact, admission to ISM is already being made through IIT-JEE.

The Professor S. Sampat Committee set up by the Centre in 1999 for evaluation and review of technical education institutes in the country, too, had strongly recommended IIT status to ISM.

In a letter to Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal, Das argued that ISM was one of the oldest institutions in the country imparting quality education in the fields of earth science and energy. “We are aware that you are keen on improving the landscape of higher education in the country and an IIT status for ISM will be a positive step in that direction,” Das’s letter to Sibal said.

“I will soon talk to the chief minister and request him to take up the issue with the Prime Minister,” he added.