Centre approves ₹11,828 crore expansion for 5 new IITs to accommodate over 6,500 more students

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved a ₹11,828.79 crore expansion plan for five Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) located in Andhra Pradesh (Tirupati), Kerala (Palakkad), Chhattisgarh (Bhilai), Jammu & Kashmir (Jammu), and Karnataka (Dharwad).

The expansion will increase the total student strength in these IITs from 7,111 to 13,687 over the next four years, with an incremental rise of 1,364 students in the first year, 1,738 in the second, 1,767 in the third, and 1,707 in the fourth across undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programmes.

"With this increase in the total number of seats, additional more than 6,500 students will now be able to fulfil their aspirations of studying in the most prestigious and sought-after educational institutions in the country," a release said.

"This will foster nation-building by creating a skilled workforce, driving innovation, and boosting economic growth. It enhances social mobility, reduces educational inequality, and strengthens India's global position."

The Cabinet also greenlit the creation of 130 faculty positions at the professor level (Level 14 and above) to support the expanded academic framework.

Five state-of-the-art research parks will be established to strengthen industry-academia collaboration, driving innovation and startup ecosystems.

The expansion is expected to generate direct employment through the recruitment of faculty, administrative staff, and support personnel, while also stimulating local economies through increased demand for housing, transportation, and services.

These five IITs, established between 2015 and 2016, began operations from temporary campuses and are now functioning from their permanent facilities.

Since the admission to the IITs is on a pan-India basis, the expansion will benefit all states/ UTs across the country, according to the government.