Key Points
- The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹11,828.79 crore expansion plan for five new IITs: Tirupati, Palakkad, Bhilai, Jammu, and Dharwad.
- Over the next four years, these IITs will add 6,576 new seats, nearly doubling their combined capacity from 7,111 to 13,687 students across UG, PG, and PhD programs.
- The plan includes 130 new professor-level faculty posts and the creation of five state-of-the-art research parks to boost industry-academia collaboration.
- The expansion is expected to generate direct and indirect employment, stimulate local economies, and strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem.
New Delhi: In a landmark move to strengthen India’s higher education and research landscape, the Union Cabinet has approved a massive ₹11,828.79 crore expansion plan for five new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs): Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Palakkad (Kerala), Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir), and Dharwad (Karnataka).
Major Increase in Student Capacity
This initiative will nearly double the combined student strength at these five IITs from the current 7,111 to 13,687 over the next four years. The seat increase will roll out in phases:
- Year 1: 1,364 new seats
- Year 2: 1,738 new seats
- Year 3: 1,767 new seats
- Year 4: 1,707 new seats
The expansion will benefit students at all levels-undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral-offering more opportunities for aspiring engineers and researchers across India.
Faculty and Research Upgrades
To support this growth, 130 new faculty positions at the professor level (Level 14 and above) have been sanctioned. This will not only enhance teaching quality but also promote advanced research and mentorship for the next generation of innovators.
A key highlight of the plan is the establishment of five state-of-the-art research parks-one at each IIT campus. These facilities are designed to foster stronger partnerships between academia and industry, encouraging innovation, start-ups, and cutting-edge research.
Economic and Social Impact
The expansion is expected to generate significant direct employment through hiring of faculty, researchers, administrative staff, and support personnel. Indirect employment will also rise in local communities due to increased demand for housing, transportation, and services around these campuses.
This move aligns with the government’s broader vision to double IIT student capacity nationwide-from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh in the past decade-making world-class technical education more accessible and driving India’s ambitions in science, technology, and innovation.
Infrastructure and Future-Readiness
The five IITs, established after 2014, initially operated from temporary campuses and are now transitioning to fully equipped permanent campuses. The new phase of construction will focus on additional academic and research infrastructure, sports facilities, and guest accommodation, ensuring these institutes are ready to meet future educational and industry needs.
The government’s approval of this ₹11,828.79 crore expansion will transform five new IITs into hubs of innovation and opportunity, nearly doubling their capacity, enhancing research, and boosting local economies. This is a major step forward for India’s higher education sector and the nation’s global competitiveness in technology and research.
