Schools of Planning and Architecture

The Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs) are centrally funded technical institutes located across India.

The SPA Council is headed by India's Minister of Human Resource Development and consists of the chairpersons and directors of all SPAs and senior officials from the MHRD.

‡ – year converted to SPA The history of the SPA system dates back to 1946 when Sir Jogendra Singh of the Viceroy's Executive Council set up a committee whose task was to consider the creation of Higher Technical Institutions for post-war industrial development in India.

Recognizing its national and international eminence, the Government of India conferred the status of 'Deemed University' on the school in 1979.

[1] The Minister of Education is the most powerful person in the organisational structure of SPAs, being the Chairman, General Council.

Under the Director, in the organisational structure, comes the Heads of Departments, Registrar, President of the Students' Council, and Chairman of the Hall Management Committee.

Admission to most postgraduate courses in SPAs is granted through various interviews and Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.

Such autonomy means that SPAs can create their own curricula and adapt rapidly to the changes in educational requirements, free from bureaucratic hurdles.

The government has no direct control over internal policy decisions of SPAs (like faculty recruitment and curricula) but has representation on the SPA Council.

School offers planning, architecture and design courses both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Other factors that have contributed to the success of SPAs are stringent faculty recruitment procedures and industry collaboration.

The procedure for selection of faculty in SPAs is stricter as compared to other colleges offering similar degrees.

Within seventy five years of its existence, the School has established a reputation as the nation’s leading institution for imparting professional education in town and country planning, architecture and design.