Parliament adopts Foreign Languages Bill

New Delhi, Dec 12: Parliament today adopted the English and Foreign Languages University Bill 2006 providing for establishing and incorporating a teaching university for promotion and development of English and other foreign languages.

The Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha today and in the Rajya Sabha earlier, was supported by all the 16 MPs who spoke on the Bill cutting across party lines.

Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Minister of State for HRD M A A Fatimi said when the Institute for English and Foreign Languages started initially in 1958, it was known as Central Institute of English. In 1972, the name was changed to Central Institute of Foreign Languages. In 1973,it was given the status of a Deemed University.

At present, the University was teaching Arabic, German, French and Spanish. The University would be at liberty to introduce any new foreign language. There would also be provision for training the teachers.

The Minister said that the Bill provides for substantially expanding the network and capacity of the University depending upon its needs. It would be at liberty to open new campuses. Presently, 300 students were studying PHD and post-graduate course while 650 were studying in certificate course.

The President of India would be the Visitor of the University and all information relating to the University would be tabled in Parliament from time to time. The University had a recurring expenditure of Rs 11 crore and non-recurring expenditure of 3.7 crores.

UNI