Govt mulling contest to decide location of new educational

institutions New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) After ‘Smart City’ contest,cities and states across the country may in the coming timescompete in another "challenge competition" – for deciding thelocations of new educational institutions funded by theCentre. According to senior officials, the government is mullingthe contours of such a contest, which would factor in thefacilities and advantages that a city or region can provide todecide where a new institute will come up. The setting up of a new institute especially premierones like IIMs, IITs or NITs, etc are considered a matter ofprestige and the HRD ministry has often received demand fromvarious quarters for setting up of new institutions. "On the line of smart city contest, the government ismulling a contest for educational institutions. However it isonly at a discussion stage," a senior official said. However, officials also said that it has to be ensuredthat the guidelines for such a contest are judicious so thatit results in putting different regions on the educational mapof the country. Earlier, the Urban Development ministry under its ‘SmartCity’ scheme had held a contest after which it chose the topcities for the scheme. PTI ADSRG