**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, to Unstarred Question No. 2524 regarding admissions in Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS). The response, dated December 15, 2025, clarifies BITS Pilani's status as an 'Institution of Eminence,' the courses offered, admission procedures, fee structure and the applicability of reservation policies.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **BITS Pilani Status and Campuses**
* BITS-Pilani is recognized as an 'Institution of Eminence' by the Ministry of Education.
* It has campuses in Pilani (main), Goa, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Dubai.
* **Academic Programs**
* Offers Integrated First Degree (Undergraduate), Higher Degree (Postgraduate), and Doctoral (Research) programs.
* Offers Bachelor of Engineering (BE) programs in various disciplines (e.g., Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Computer Science).
* Offers Master of Engineering (ME) programs in various disciplines (e.g., Chemical, Computer Science, Mechanical).
* Also offers B.Pharm, M.Pharm, MBA and M.Sc. degrees in Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics, Economics, Semiconductor & Nano Science and General Studies.
* **Admission Process**
* Admissions to Integrated First-Degree Programs are based on BITSAT (conducted by BITS), Board Topper Scheme, and SAT scores.
* Admissions to Higher Degree programs are based on GATE/GPAT/BITS HD Test/BAAT/CAT/XAT/GMAT scores.
* Admission to doctoral programs is based on performance in institution-designed tests/interviews and NET.
* The NTA does not conduct entrance examinations for BITS-Pilani.
* **Governance and Fee Structure**
* BITS-Pilani is governed by UGC regulations for 'Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities.'
* The institution has freedom to admit students through a transparent merit-based system.
* They fix fees as per internal policies without hidden charges or capitation fees.
* The institution must maintain a financial assistance program for meritorious students.
* **Reservation Policy**
* The Central Educational Institutions Acts of 2006 and 2019 provide for reservations in admission and teacher recruitment for SC, ST, and OBC candidates.
* These acts apply to Central Educational Institutions, including Deemed to be Universities, maintained by or receiving aid from the Central Government.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Education**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring BITS-Pilani adheres to regulations for 'Institutions of Eminence'.
* **Action Required:** Oversee BITS-Pilani's compliance with UGC regulations, including admission transparency, fee policies, and financial aid programs.
**BITS-Pilani Administration**
* **Impact:** Required to follow UGC regulations for 'Institutions of Eminence'.
* **Action Required:** Ensure adherence to transparent admission processes, fee policies, and the maintenance of a robust financial assistance program.
**Students (Prospective and Current)**
* **Impact:** Affected by the admission criteria, fee structure, and availability of financial aid.
* **Action Required:** Understand the admission process through BITSAT/GATE/GPAT, fee structure, and eligibility criteria for financial assistance programs.
**Faculty and Staff (Current and Prospective)**
* **Impact:** Subject to reservation policies for recruitment in alignment with Central Educational Institutions Acts where applicable.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of reservation policies during recruitment and promotion processes.
Key Entities Referenced
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS): A private 'Deemed to be University' and an ‘Institution of Eminence’ with campuses in Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Dubai, whose admission policies and fee structures are the subject of parliamentary inquiry.
Ministry of Education: The government ministry responsible for higher education, which issued the notification designating BITS Pilani as an 'Institution of Eminence'.
The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006: A law providing for reservation in admissions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes in Central Educational Institutions.
The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Act, 2019: A law providing for reservation in teacher recruitment for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes in Central Educational Institutions.
UGC (Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2017: Regulations governing 'Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities', providing them autonomy in admissions and fee structure, subject to certain conditions.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2524
ANSWERED ON 15/12/2025
Admissions in Birla Institute of Technology and Science
†2524. Dr. Manna Lal Rawat:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the undergraduate, post-graduate and research level courses being currently offered at the
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani and Jaipur campuses;
(b) whether entrance examinations are conducted for admission to these courses by the National
Testing Agency (NTA) or by the institute itself, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether students are eligible for admission to the said campuses if they pass the
examinations conducted by the NTA, if so, the details of the admission process in this regard;
(d) whether the Government has any control or regulatory authority over the prescribed fee
structure for various categories such as SC, ST, OBC, General and women in the said
campuses;
(e) whether the reservation policy of the Union Government is applicable in the selection of
teaching and non-teaching staff in private 'Deemed to be University' institutions, if so, the
details of the proposal under consideration in this regard; and
(f) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (d): Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) -Pilani is an ‘Institution of
Eminence’ as per a notification in October, 2020 issued by the Ministry of Education. It has its
main campus at Pilani, Rajasthan, off-campuses at Goa, Hyderabad and Mumbai and off-shore
campus in Dubai.
It operates academic programmes across three tiers – Integrated First Degree Programmes
(Undergraduate level), Higher Degree Programmes (Postgraduate level) and Doctoral
Programmes (Research level). At the UG Level, Bachelor of Engineering (BE) Programmes
are offered in disciplines like – Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Electronics, Mechanical,
Computer Science, Electronics and Instrumentation, Electronics and Communication,
Manufacturing, Electronics and Computer Science, Mathematics and Computing,
Environmental and Sustainability. At PG level, Master of Engineering (ME) Programmes are
offered in disciplines like - Chemical, Computer Science, Mechanical, Software systems,Microelectronics, Communication Engineering, Biotechnology, Civil, Electrical, Embedded
Systems, Design, Manufacturing Systems and Environmental Engineering.
B.Pharm., M.Pharm., MBA and M.Sc. Degree in Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences,
Mathematics, Economics, Semiconductor & Nano Science and General Studies are also
offered.
Admissions to all Integrated First-Degree Programmes are made through - BITSAT conducted
by the institution itself, Board Topper Scheme and SAT. Further, admissions to higher degree
programmes are made through GATE/GPAT/BITS HD Test/BAAT/CAT/XAT/GMAT.
Performance in institution-designed test/ interview and NET is considered for admissions to
doctoral programmes. NTA does not conduct any entrance examination for admissions to
BITS-Pilani.
BITS-Pilani is governed by the UGC (Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities)
Regulations, 2017 (as amended in 2021). These regulations provide freedom to the institutions
to admit students through a transparent merit-based system and fix fees as per their internal
policies, provided that there are no hidden charges or capitation fees. They also require the
institutions to maintain a credible and robust financial assistance program to support
meritorious students who lack adequate financial means.
(e) and (f): The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 and
the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Act, 2019 provide for the
reservation in admission and recruitment of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the
Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes in certain Central Educational Institutions.
These Acts are applicable on all Central Educational Institutions which include Institutions
Deemed to be Universities maintained by or receiving aid from the Central Government.
******