Parliament Question: Upgradation of GKCIET, Malda to Deemed-to-be University Status

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 215 ANSWERED ON 20.07.2026 Upgradation of GKCIET, Malda to Deemed-to-be University Status 215. Shri Isha Khan Choudhury: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the proposal for upgradation of the Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology (GKCIET), Narayanpur, Malda District to the status of a Deemed-to-be University under the Distinct/De Novo Category (Application No. UNI-D- 2024-11-031301) has been approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC); and (b) if so, the expected timeline for granting Deemed-to-be University status to the Institute? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) & (b): Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology (GKCIET), Malda, West Bengal established in 2010 by the Ministry of Education, Government of India with the objective to create a multi-layered inter-disciplinary and inter-sectorial efficient professional technical manpower. To align with New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, higher educational institutions are expected to evolve into multidisciplinary institutions. Accordingly, the Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology, Malda, West Bengal submitted an application on University Grants Commission (UGC) Deemed University Portal for Deemed to be University status under the "Distinct Category" under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. The application was examined by the expert committee as per UGC (Institutions Deemed To Be Universities) regulation 2023 and recommended for issue of Letter of Intent. Accordingly, the Ministry of Education issued Letter of Intent (LoI) on 08.12.2025 to the Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology (GKCIET), Malda, West Bengal. ****