Centre revokes IIPS Director’s suspension after he resigns
Context
Through two official orders issued by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry last Wednesday, the Union government accepted K.S. James’s resignation, which was submitted in early August, and revoked the suspension order that had been placed on him by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) director in late July due to irregularities in recruitment.
What is the International Institute for Population Sciences?
The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) is a regional centre for training and research in population studies for the ESCAP region. It began operations in Mumbai in July 1956. It was known as the International Institute for Population Studies (IIPS) until 1985, and as the Demographic Training and Research Center (DTRC) until July 1970.
What is the historical background behind IIPS?
- IIPS was founded in Mumbai in the year 1956
- Up until July 1970, it was known as the Demographic Training and Research Centre (DTRC).
- Before being renamed in 1985, it was known as the International Institute for Population Studies (IIPS).
- Under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, it was designated as a “Deemed to be University” in 1985 by the Indian government’s Ministry of Human Resource Development.
What are the objectives of IIPS?
- Educate people in the areas of demography and allied fields, such as family planning demographics.
- Undertake scientific investigations on population-related matters that hold significance for India and other nations within the ESCAP area.
- Gather, compile, and distribute demographic data about the people of India and other nations.
- Offer government agencies, public companies, and private enterprises research, assessment, training, advice, and direction on demographic concerns.
- To further its goals, plan conferences, study sessions, talks, seminars, and other activities.
- To achieve its goals, it will publish books, journals, research papers, and libraries.
What are the goals and objectives of the IIPS?
- Producing skilled professionals:
- Raise the number of graduates by certain percentages.
- Compare faculty, pedagogy, and courses to global benchmarks.
- Boost faculty knowledge and calibre.
- Producing and distributing scientific data and knowledge:
- Establish goals for each faculty member’s research publications and projects.
- Plan workshops and conferences with a global reach.
- Provide professors with incentives and disincentives to fulfil research obligations.
- Cooperation and information sharing:
- Form partnerships with Indian establishments and groups.
- Encourage professors to take part in exchange initiatives.
- As needed, appoint adjunct faculty.
- Give students in cooperative institutions summer training opportunities.
- Decrease your reliance on public funding.
- Awareness and advocacy:
- Work together on training and research projects with institutions.
- Emphasize the importance of population studies and demography.
- Encourage the acknowledgement of demographics in positions of authority.
Why was IIPS in the news recently?
- Resignation and Suspension:
- The Union government removed K.S. James, the Director of IIPS, in late July over suspected irregularities in recruiting and other administrative concerns.
- On August 7, he handed in his resignation, citing personal reasons for his move.
- Revocation of Suspension:
- On October 11, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry issued two formal directives ending K.S. James’ suspension.
- The Ministry did not state whether the claimed anomalies were false; instead, it relied on “material changes in the circumstances” as justification for removing the suspension.
- As the case’s disciplinary authority, Mansukh Mandaviya, the minister of health and family welfare, approved the suspension cancellation “with immediate effect.”
