Thiruvananthapuram: The central government is set to take over the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) and upgrade it as an Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST). "At today's (Wednesday) cabinet meeting, we decided to inform the central government to take over CUSAT and to upgrade it as an IIEST," Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting in the city.

"We have also asked the central government to see that the reservation system presently followed is kept intact," he added.

IIESTs are proposed by the central government to meet the growing demand for setting up highly rated Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) by every state in the country. The central government has selected seven universities for upgradation as IIESTs.

The Kerala IIEST is expected to reserve 50 percent seats for domicile candidates and rest will be open for students from other states.(IANS)