The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved an expansive Rs. 11,828.79 crore plan to enhance academic and infrastructural capacities at five Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). This initiative aims to add 6,576 new seats across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs over the next four years, effectively increasing the total student capacity from 7,111 to 13,687.
The expansion encompasses five third-generation IITs established post-2014, those being IIT Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, IIT Palakkad in Kerala, IIT Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, IIT Jammu in Jammu & Kashmir, and IIT Dharwad in Karnataka
The expansion will be implemented in phases from the fiscal year 2025-26 to 2028-29, with student intake increasing per year. In the first year, 1,364 students will be added, followed by 1,738 additional students in the second year, 1,767 additional students in the third year, and 1,707 additional students in the fourth year.
The expansion includes undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs, addressing the increasing demand for high-quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in India.
To support the increased student body, the creation of 130 new faculty positions at the professor level was sanctioned by the Cabinet. Additionally, five state-of-the-art research parks will be established, one at each IIT.. These parks are modeled after the successful ones at IIT Madras and IIT Bombay and will serve as innovation hubs, facilitating collaboration between academia and industry, supporting start-ups, and enabling translational research that meets national priorities.
The development of these IIT campuses is expected to stimulate local economies by increasing demand for housing, transportation, and services. The initiative aligns with the government’s vision of “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, aiming to create a skilled workforce, drive innovation, and enhance India’s global competitiveness.
Over the past decade, the total student strength across all 23 IITs has doubled from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh. This expansion plan continues that trajectory, particularly focusing on IITs established after 2014, which initially operated from temporary campuses and have since transitioned to permanent locations.
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This initiative is poised to contribute significantly to India’s educational and economic development. By expanding five of its newest IITs, the government aims to make elite technical education more inclusive, support innovation ecosystems in emerging cities, and contribute toward a self-reliant and technologically advanced India. If implemented effectively, this plan could become a blueprint for future educational reforms in the country.5 IITs adding 6000 seats over 4 years, Rs 11,828 core budget approved
