Soon, all architecture engineering colleges including all SPAs (Schools of Planning & Architecture) and institutes such as Mumbai’s JJ School of Architecture and Ahmedabad’s CEPT University will be out of the purview of the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry.

The council of secretaries headed by cabinet secretary PK Sinha last month recommended that these institutes should be brought under the Union urban development ministry to ensure better synergy between what is taught in the institutes and how they are getting translated on the ground.

“The panel felt the urban development ministry, which deals with urban affair issues is better equipped to cater to the needs of architecture education since bulk of planned building activity and main employment space of practising architects and planners is in urban areas,“ said a government source.

Also, all building activities in urban areas are regulated through various building bye-laws which are standardised 1  by the urban development ministry.

• 1. The reallocation decision is on the lines of various Acts being administered by various ministries which have direct correlation with the provisions of the Acts.

  For instance, the Company Secretaries Act 1990 is under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs; Pharmacy Act, 1948, Dentists Act, 1948, Indian Medical Council Act, 1958 are with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Advocates Act, 1961 with Ministry of Law & Justice.

  Besides, a large number of construction-related entities like NBCC, CPWD, HUDCO, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Town and Country Planning Organisation are with Urban Development and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministries. Their functioning also involves wide range of engagement with architects.