The Union Cabinet on 17 th November 2005 decided to upgrade the National Institute of Fashion Technology here to the status of a Central University on the lines of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Indian Institutes of Technology.

This is part of an exercise to help the garment industry fare better in the international market following the removal of the quota regime from January 1, 2006.

Announcing this, Union Minister and Cabinet spokesperson, Jaipal Reddy said a Bill would be introduced in this regard in the winter session of Parliament.

The garment industry and the Union Textile Ministry had been pressing for the upgradation on the ground that there was immense export potential and it could be tapped better if fashion technology related education was standardized and brought up to international standards.

Mr. Reddy said the Institute, set up in 1986 as an autonomous society, would continue to operate with full autonomy. It would be able to offer degrees and advanced courses. It now offered only diploma courses.

Union Textile Minister, Shankarsinh Vaghela on 16 th November 2005 announced that two branches of the Institute would be soon set up to increase the number of trained personnel. While one would come up in Kerala, the other would be in Uttar Pradesh.

(http://www.hindu.com)