Union Cabinet Approves ₹11,828 Crore IIT Expansion Project

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the second phase of infrastructure and academic capacity expansion for five recently established Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) — IIT Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), IIT Palakkad (Kerala), IIT Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), IIT Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir), and IIT Dharwad (Karnataka).

With an estimated outlay of ₹11,828.79 crore, this phase will be implemented over four years from 2025–26 to 2028–29. It includes the development of advanced infrastructure, the creation of 130 new faculty positions at the Professor level (Level 14 and above), and the establishment of five cutting-edge research parks to strengthen industry-academia collaboration.

Upon completion, student capacity across these IITs will nearly double — from 7,111 to 13,687 — adding 6,576 new seats. The initiative is expected to boost direct employment through the recruitment of faculty, researchers, and administrative staff, while also driving local economic growth by increasing demand for housing, transport, and services around the campuses. Additionally, the expanded research and innovation ecosystem is poised to enhance India’s startup landscape and contribute to long-term employment generation across sectors.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.