BIKANER, Aug. 8 -- Even as enrolment in AICTE-approved technical institutions has risen steadily across the country over the last three years, Rajasthan has recorded a consistent increase in the number of technical institutions shutting down, prompting Churu MP Rahul Kaswan to seek a detailed policy review from the Centre. The issue was raised by Congress MP from Churu Kaswan through an Unstarred Question in the Lok Sabha, in which he sought the number of technical institutions that had closed during the last three years, the reasons behind their closure, whether the government had examined the link between declining enrolment and institutional closures, the states most affected, and the measures being taken to improve the quality, viability and enrolment of technical institutions. In its reply, the Ministry of Education said the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) processes applications for closure in accordance with its Approval Process Handbook and furnished state-wise data on institutions that had closed during the period. According to the annexure tabled in Parliament by the ministry, Rajasthan recorded three closures in 2024-25, six in 2025-26 and eight in 2026-27, taking the total number of AICTE-approved technical institutions that have closed in the state over the three-year period to 17. Maharashtra reported the highest number of closures in 2026-27 with 35 institutions, followed by Madhya Pradesh (19), Uttar Pradesh (14), Tamil Nadu (14), Gujarat (10) and Punjab (10). The ministry, however, said enrolment in AICTE-approved technical institutions has increased consistently, rising from 2.1 million in 2023-24 to 2.7 million in 2024-25 and 2.9 million lakh in 2025-26. It said AICTE has introduced a series of measures to improve institutional viability, including allowing institutions to discontinue non-performing courses, introducing programmes in emerging technologies, simplifying approval procedures, promoting industry interaction, internships and skill development, and strengthening transparent online approval processes. Reacting to the reply, Kaswan said the government's response provided closure statistics and outlined policy initiatives but did not explain why technical institutions continued to shut down despite rising enrolment....