Odisha got Institute of Science and Research (IISER) in Budget

Odisha is all set to get an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) after Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday declared in his budget speech that two IISERs would be set up in Odisha along with Nagaland.

“The Centre wants every state to have central institutes. It will boost pursuit of science education and research in the eastern region,” said Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram.

The state government welcomed the Centre’s initiative. “The BJD-led Odisha govt welcomes the Centre’s decision to set up an institution of science and educational research in Odisha,” the BJD tweeted.

At present, there are five IISERs run by the ministry of human resource development. These are located in Bhopal, Mohali, Pune, Kolkata and Thiruvanantapuram.

IISERs are autonomous institutions awarding their own masters and doctoral degrees.

It was the Modi government’s second gift of central institution to the state as Jaitley had announced an IIM for Odisha in 2014. The state already had apex central institutes such as IIT, AIIMS, National Institute of Science Education and Research and National Institute of Fashion Technology.