The Union human resource development ministry has turned down a request from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) to open a campus in Singapore citing that the prestigious B-schools should meet domestic demand first.

IIM-B had sought the consent of the ministry sometime back to open the campus to which it wrote back saying it should start it within the country as there was so much unmet demand, ministry sources said.

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Last month there was a meeting of directors of IIMs in Delhi when they were asked by the government to meet the domestic demand, sources said.

"Though IIMs have global brand, there is a huge demand within the county and it should be met first," sources said, adding that the government was not in favour of IIMs starting campuses outside the county before they fulfilled their commitment towards domestic requirements.