India, June 7 -- Higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil, during a public event, questioned the research output and societal impact of state universities, including Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU).

Speaking at the inauguration of the Science and Mathematics Building and Research Centre at DES Pune University on Friday, Patil said that if India aspires to become an economic superpower, universities must place greater emphasis on research, innovation and quality training rather than limiting themselves to conventional teaching.

"IITs are producing new research every day and contributing to society. But what significant work has SPPU done? If it has done such work, I may not be aware of it," Patil said.

The minis...