Cabinet Approves ₹11,828 Crore Expansion Plan for Five IITs

In a landmark decision to strengthen India’s higher education landscape, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a comprehensive expansion of five newly established Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) located in Tirupati, Palakkad, Bhilai, Jammu, and Dharwad. This phase-B expansion, involving a financial outlay of ₹11,828.79 crore over four years, aims to significantly increase student intake, create new faculty posts, and build state-of-the-art research parks to foster stronger industry-academia partnerships.

Why in News?

The Union Cabinet on 7 May 2025 approved the Phase-B construction and expansion of five IITs set up post-2014 to boost student intake, research capabilities, and infrastructure development. This decision will benefit over 6,500 additional students and help create a more robust ecosystem for innovation and employment.

Key Highlights of the Cabinet Decision

• Total Outlay: ₹11,828.79 crore over 2025–2029.
• Target IITs: IIT Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), IIT Palakkad (Kerala), IIT Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), IIT Jammu (J&K), and IIT Dharwad (Karnataka).
• Student Capacity: Will increase by 6,576, reaching a total strength of 13,687.
• Faculty Posts: Creation of 130 new posts at the Professor level (Level 14 and above).
• Research Parks: Five new state-of-the-art research parks to promote industry-academia linkages.

Implementation Targets (Student Strength Increase Over 4 Years)

• Year 1: +1,364 students
• Year 2: +1,738 students
• Year 3: +1,767 students
• Year 4: +1,707 students

Objectives of the Expansion

• Enhance quality of education and research.
• Meet the growing demand for engineering and technology programs.
• Strengthen India’s global position in STEM and innovation.
• Encourage regional development through world-class institutions.
• Foster employment generation through increased academic and administrative staffing.

Background

• The five IITs were established in phases post-2014.
• IIT Tirupati and IIT Palakkad began academic operations in 2015–16.
• IIT Bhilai, IIT Jammu, and IIT Dharwad followed in 2016–17.
• All started in temporary campuses and have now shifted to permanent campuses.

Static Facts

• Total number of IITs in India: 23
• Student strength in IITs doubled from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh over the past decade.
• Admissions are pan-India and based on JEE Advanced rankings.

Significance

• Reduces educational inequality by expanding access to elite institutions.
• Empowers local economies through infrastructure and job creation.
• Promotes a knowledge-based society aligned with the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Supports India’s ambition to be a global innovation hub.