Cabinet Approves Major Expansion for Five New IITs to Boost Education and Innovation

New Delhi, — In a landmark decision aimed at strengthening India’s higher education landscape, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the second phase of infrastructure and academic expansion for five Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) established after 2014. These include IIT Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), IIT Palakkad (Kerala), IIT Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), IIT Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir), and IIT Dharwad (Karnataka).

₹11,829 Crore Allocated for Phase-B Expansion

The project, budgeted at ₹11,828.79 crore, will be implemented over four years (2025–26 to 2028–29). This strategic investment focuses on enhancing infrastructure and increasing student intake to meet the rising demand for quality technical education across India.

IITs, Boost Education and Innovation

Key Highlights of the Expansion:

• Student Capacity Doubling: The student strength at these five IITs is projected to rise from the current 7,111 to 13,687, an increase of 6,576 seats. This includes growth in undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs.

• Phased Growth Plan: The intake will grow by 1,364 students in the first year, 1,738 in the second, 1,767 in the third, and 1,707 in the fourth.

• Faculty Recruitment: 130 new faculty posts at the level of Professor (Level 14 and above) will be created to ensure high academic standards.

• Research Parks: Five new state-of-the-art research parks will be established to foster innovation and facilitate industry-academia collaboration.

Strategic Importance and Long-Term Benefits:

This move is expected to significantly impact India’s education and innovation sectors:

• Pan-India Benefits: While located in five states/UTs, admissions to IITs are based on national-level entrance exams (JEE Advanced), ensuring access for students across the country.

• Nation-Building and Skill Development: The expansion will help cultivate a skilled, tech-savvy workforce vital for India’s economic and technological growth.

• Social Impact: By increasing access to premier institutions, the initiative promotes social mobility and helps bridge educational inequalities.

• Boost to Local Economies: Expansion will stimulate employment in construction, administration, teaching, research, and local service sectors.

Background and Context:

These IITs were established between 2015 and 2017 as part of the government’s efforts to increase the reach of top-tier technical education. IIT Palakkad and IIT Tirupati began their academic sessions in 2015–16, followed by IITs in Bhilai, Jammu, and Dharwad in 2016–17. All five are now operating from permanent campuses.

Alignment with Union Budget 2025–26:

This development supports the Union Budget 2025–26 announcement, which highlighted a 100% increase in total IIT student strength—from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh over the last decade. The budget emphasized the need for further infrastructure in the newer IITs to accommodate 6,500 additional students.