TV
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a major expansion of academic and infrastructure capacity in five Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) established post-2014. The decision, taken on Wednesday, covers Phase-‘B’ construction at IIT Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), IIT Palakkad (Kerala), IIT Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), IIT Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir), and IIT Dharwad (Karnataka).
Significant Investment Over Four Years
A total budget of Rs 11,828.79 crore has been earmarked for the expansion, which will be implemented over four years from 2025-26 to 2028-29. The plan includes comprehensive development of academic buildings, laboratories, and residential facilities to enhance the institutes’ overall capacity.
Strengthening Capacity and Industry Linkages
To accommodate the planned growth, 130 new faculty positions at the level of Professor (Level 14 and above) will be created. In addition, five state-of-the-art research parks will be developed to foster collaboration between industry and academia.
Student intake across undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programmes will increase progressively each year—by 1,364 in the first year, 1,738 in the second, 1,767 in the third, and 1,707 in the fourth—resulting in a total increase of 6,576 students. This will raise the combined student capacity at the five IITs from 7,111 to 13,687.
Nationwide Benefits and Employment Opportunities
Although these institutions are based in five states/UTs, admissions are pan-India, ensuring that the benefits extend across the country. The expansion is expected to enhance social mobility, reduce educational inequality, and boost India's innovation ecosystem. It will also generate direct employment through faculty and administrative recruitment and stimulate local economies through increased demand for housing and services.
The move follows a Budget 2025-26 announcement highlighting a 100 per cent rise in IIT student capacity over the last decade.
