The pending wages imbroglio of IITs and IIMs faculty members has been partially resolved at a meeting attended by HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal, and the top brass of the prestigious management and technical institutes of the country. The Human Resource Ministry tactfully convinced IIT faculty that pay revision will increase their salaries even more than the UGC scale and even DRDO scientists.

Gautam Barua, IIT-Guwahati Director, termed the discussion as a positive step towards addressing all dispute pertaining to salaries and wages. Mr. Barua added: "The ministry gave its word on looking into the apprehensions that faculty members had regarding pay scales.''

HRD minister also reviewed the work on new IITs in the country and urged the expedition of the work for the country to usher in the new era of technology. Mr. Sibal asked directors to form a special cell for the recruitment of foreign faculty into technical institutes.

An IIT director who participated in the meeting said: "We too will similarly shortlist a pool of faculty who are interested in coming and teaching at the IITs for short durations."

Meanwhile, the government's move to merge IIT-JEE and AIEEE to roll out a new entrance test may take some time, as the authorities are trying to build consensus over the issue.