ITBHU students organize a march to protest political inaction over conversion of IT-BHU to IIT. From http://www.itbhu2iit.com/ : The IITs started taking shape in late 60s and early 70s and since then the idea of converting ITBHU to IIT has been toyed with. ITBHU has been close to an IIT status and fell short whatever may the reason be, not less than four times. First, it was in 1972 when ITBHU applied to become IIT Varanasi with the erstwhile German Democratic Republic's technical assistance. However the process fell through owing to political reasons. Then in the 1990s when IIT Guwahati came into existence ITBHU was again overlooked. Then in the late 90s when Rourkee College was granted the IIT status, despite the fact that ITBHU was better placed as evident from comprehensive studies and surveys by various magazines. Its hopes were revived in the 2000 by the National Democratic Alliance government that announced creation of seven IITs by converting existing institutions and creating new ones. The government constituted a committee of scientists and educationists that visited campuses and compiled a detailed evaluation. IT-BHU reportedly ranked at the top of the shortlist. But soon afterwards UPA government came to power which had its own policies and visions. And again the much sought 'I' eluded the ITBHU. Humorously again in 2008 the Union Cabinet of the Government of India 'in principle' approved to take over ITBHU, convert it to an Indian Institute of Technology and incorporate it into the IIT system.(http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=40461) But if the recent media reports are to be believed the Government has again decided shelve its plan to brand ITBHU as an IIT.