Cabinet nod given for Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV)

Cabinet approves upgradation of National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI) as Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV),

Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022 to be introduced in the Parliament.

Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) to be set up as an autonomous Central University fully funded by Ministry of Railways.

Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) to serve as a hub for Education, Training, Skilling and Research in transportation sector with a pan-India jurisdiction.

Cabinet has today approved the Ministry of Education's proposal for upgrading National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI) as Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) from a Deemed to be University to a Central University.

Upgrading NRTI from a Deemed to be University to a Central University will enable the University to innovate in designing new programmes, courses, pedagogy and raise the overall academics beyond the prevailing syllabus and regular curses.

GSV will also be able to affiliate and upgrade other campuses, enlist constituent institutes and special Centres. Railway Training Centres and specialized laboratories will also to utilized.

• The Hon'ble Prime Minister announced that Vadodara will get India's first Railway University, on October 22, 2016.

• The Cabinet approved establishment of the NRTU Foundation, a not for profit company under section 8 of he Companies Act as sponsoring body of National Rail Transportation Institute (NRTI).

• Notification declaring NRTI as a Deemed to be University was issued on July 26, 2018.

• NRTI became operational from National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR) Campus, Vadodara with commencement of its first academic year, 2018-21.

• With a view to provide NRTI a stature appropriate to its vision, it was proposed to seek conversion of National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI), presently a Deemed to be University into Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), as a Central University through amendment to the Central Universities Act, 2009 and for the purpose, a Central Universities (Amendment) Bill is proposed to be introduced for consideration of the Parliament.

• As approved by Hon'ble MR, a proposal for conversion of NRTI from a deemed to be University to a Central University to be known as 'Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV)' through an amendment to the Central Universities Act, 2009 was sent to Deptt of Higher Education.

• Today, the Cabinet has cleared the proposal mooted by Deptt of Higher Education.

• It is expected that the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022 will be introduced in the Parliament during the coming session. Once approved by the Parliament and assented to by the Hon'ble President, a gazette notification will be issued by the M/O Law and Justice declaring GSV, a Central University.

Advantages of upgrading NRTI to a Central University:

• Upgrading NRTI from a Deemed to be University to a Central University will enable the GSV to:

• Innovate new programmes, courses, pedagogy.

• Affiliate and upgrade other campuses, constituent institutes and special Centres and specialized laboratories to offer service at scale across the country.

• Pan-nationla presence which will enable us to utilise the wide spread infrastructure of the Training Institutes of the Indian Railways and other transport departments under one umbrella.

• Gain freedom & stature to forge additional partnerships to expand its capabilities and programmes.

• Operate nationwide as a knowledge hub for transportation research and development; including establishing a research network with other national and international universities, industry partners and through Indian Railway's own research institutions.

• Attract high quality faculty, researchers and academic leadership based on reputation, prestige and flexibility.

• Leverage technology driven learning models for distance education, testing and certification.

• Involve Railway training facilities across the country as constituent institutions, creating a University infrastructure in India unrivalled in the country that can cater nation's fast growing transport sector. This could be a game changer in providing industry-ready manpower at all levels.

The setting up of GSV directly supports the vision and goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

A large number of students go abroad for Master's and PhD degrees in transportation because such programmes are not available in India.

The GSV will reverse the brain drain and create critical capability much required in India.

Similarly, substantial financial resources are expended on executive education and training in universities abroad which can be redirected to GSV.

Through its programs for the development of Skilling and Digitising India, GSV shall also go a long way in making India self-reliant in the transportation sector and perhaps meet the global skill standards since India has the demographic advantage of young population.

Finally, and most importantly, GSV will carry out valuable and critically-needed research and development to create innovative technologies that will drive local manufacturing and substitute the imports of expensive technology, equipment and products for the transportation sector in our country.

Over time GSV could reduce dependence on foreign technologies and products in a critical sector for India.

Currently NRTI is functioning from NAIR campus, Vadodara for the past four years.

It has 750 students from across the country enrolled in the following undergraduate and postgraduate programs:

1) BBA in Transportation Management

2) B.Sc. in Transportation Technology

3) B.Tech. in Rail Infrastructure Engineering

4) B.Tech. in Rail Systems & Communication Engineering

5) B.Tech. in Mechanical and Rail Engineering

6) MBA in Transport Economics & Management

7) MBA in Logistics & Supply Chain Management

8) M.Sc. in Transport Technology and Policy

9) M.Sc. in Transport Information Systems and Analytics

10) M.Sc. in Railway Systems Engineering & Integration (International degree program with University of Birmingham, UK)

As a Central University, it will be called the "Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV)" in place of its current name National Rail & Transportation Institute providing it with a higher academic stature.

The change of status from Deemed to be University to Central University will not disrupt the operations of the University in any way and the education of students will not be disturbed at all.

It will perhaps enhance the academic and skill development levels of the university students. GSV will ensure continuity in its programmes, academic and administrative operations in transitioning to the new status.

It will follow best practices and learnings from similar transitions of Institutions to Central Universities in recent years.