New Delhi: The Union education ministry’s diktat to translate existing teaching material into local languages has been ignored by as many as 17 IIMs and refused by three, the Telegraph reported.The ministry issued an office memorandum in October 2021 with the subject line: “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav — Translation of existing literature by Universities (using AICTE translation tools)…” as part of an initiative to offer professional courses in local languages, the report said.“It has been decided that under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, existing literature has to be translated in different Indian languages. At least 75 Universities have to be involved in this activity over next two years,” the documents accessed by the Telegraph read.“UGC (the University Grants Commission) and Bureau Heads are requested to mobilise Universities/Autonomous Organisations, under their administrative control, in this exercise and keep this Division informed of the activities being taken,” it added.This office memorandum was forwarded to all institutions, including the IIMs, under the ministry in November 2021, the Telegraph reported.While IIM Bangalore, IIM Kashipur and IIM Udaipur wrote back saying that the order was not applicable to them, the remaining 17 have not responded.“IIMB is a Management Institute. We do not have literature for translation into other languages,” wrote the chief administrative officer of IIM Bangalore in an email to the Union education ministry.IIM Udaipur’s then director, Janat Shah, wrote back saying: “We would like to inform you that translation of existing literature by Universities (using AICTE translation tools) is not applicable to IIM Udaipur.”IIM Kashipur chief administrative officer M. Ramasubramanian said: “With respect to the training email, this is to inform you that the matter is not applicable to IIM Kashipur,” the report said.Meanwhile, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to translate literature in existing subjects to local languages as IITs and NITs are also being persuaded to offer their courses in Indian languages under the National Education Policy (NEP), the report said.