Bhubaneswar, March 14 (IANS): The Odisha government has urged the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) to accord approval to the proposals for an increase in the intake and introduction of new programmes of technical institutions.

The government, in principle, has approved a scheme to increase the intake of existing programmes and introduction of new programmes both in under graduate (UG) and post graduate (PG) level in the government technical universities, engineering colleges and polytechnics of the state during the 12th plan period.

"Approval of the AICTE to the UG and PG programmes of government technical universities and engineering colleges is essential," Employment and Technical Education and Training secretary C.S. Kumar said in a letter to AICTE (acting) chairman Avinash S. Pant.

It is required, the letter said, "to take forward the initiative of the government for capacity expansion of government institutions in the interest of poor and meritorious students of the state".

The institutions have applied for approval to the AICTE for additional intake and introduction of new programmes as per the decision of the state government.

Kumar has urged the AICTE to relax the norms for mandatory National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and the variation of intake and introduction of new courses for the current academic year 2015-16.