India, April 24 -- In a landmark decision, the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune has been granted the status of a 'Deemed University' under the 'distinct category' by the Central Government today. The move is being hailed as a major step forward for one of India's premier film and television training institutes. Apart from the FTII, the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata has also been granted the deemed-to-be university status, according to the Ministry of Education (MoE).

FTII, which functions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, is renowned both nationally and internationally for its contributions to the fields of film and television education. While a proposal to designate FTII...