The National Institutes of Design Act, 2014, enacted on 17th July 2014, was introduced to elevate certain design institutions to the status of "institutions of national importance." This legislation aimed to promote excellence in design education, research, and training across India. The Act originally focused on the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, but was amended in 2019 to include four additional institutes in Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.
The Act provides for the incorporation of these institutes as autonomous bodies with perpetual succession, empowering them to award degrees, diplomas, and other academic distinctions equivalent to universities. It outlines their governance structure, including a Governing Council chaired by an eminent expert and a Senate for academic regulation. Key provisions cover the institutes' powers to conduct courses, establish campuses, collaborate with industry, manage funds, and maintain transparency under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Central Government retains oversight, including the appointment of Directors and the authority to issue directives. The Act also ensures continuity of existing staff and transitional arrangements during its implementation.
In essence, the law institutionalizes design education under a unified framework, fostering innovation, industry-academia collaboration, and equitable access while upholding academic and administrative autonomy.