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In India, engineering has long been considered one of the most prestigious career paths, and at the pinnacle of this journey stand the Indian Institutes of Technology, popularly known as IITs. Revered as the most elite engineering institutions in the country, the IITs symbolize academic brilliance, rigorous selection, and a gateway to global career opportunities. For millions of aspiring students and their families, “IIT” resonates with hope, ambition, and the promise of a transformative education. In this article, we will explore how many IIT in India exist.
The question of how many IITs in India exist is not just academic curiosity; it directly impacts students’ decisions for competitive exams like JEE Main and IIT JEE admission through JEE Advanced. Each IIT brings unique advantages, be it its location, faculty strength, flagship programs, or campus culture. With the number of IIT colleges in India steadily increasing, many students and parents are eager to know the total number of IITs in India and the distribution of these institutions across the country. According to the IIT list 2025 and the total IITs in India today, there are currently 23 IITs.
Moreover, understanding the growth and evolution of IITs provides valuable insight into India’s broader educational and technological development. From the inception of IIT Kharagpur in 1951, the oldest IIT in India, to the new IITs in India, such as IIT Goa and IIT Dharwad, established in recent years, each institute has played a crucial role in shaping India’s scientific and technological landscape. This article offers a detailed and structured exploration of the history, current status, top IIT colleges in India, rank-wise, admission process, and future of IIT in India, serving as a comprehensive guide for anyone seeking to understand the accurate scale and significance of the IIT system today.
India’s premier engineering institutes, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), are the country’s gold standard for technical education. For lakhs of students, getting into an IIT is a dream nurtured over years of hard work. But how many IIT in India exist today, and why do they hold such immense value? As per the latest count, the total IIT in India stands at 23 institutions.
An IIT, or Indian Institute of Technology, is a premier public technical and research university in India that offers high-quality engineering, science, and technology education.
Established with the vision to propel India’s technological and scientific advancements, IITs have become symbols of excellence, innovation, and academic rigor. Each IIT operates autonomously, yet they all fall under the governance of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. They are empowered to award degrees and conduct advanced research, making them some of the most prestigious institutions in Asia and globally recognized for their standards.
The importance of IITs extends far beyond academics. Their graduates have a history of contributing significantly to India’s technological growth, economic development, and global reputation. The alumni network includes influential scientists, top-tier CEOs, international entrepreneurs, and policymakers. This legacy has made IIT colleges in India a dream destination for students nationwide, with admission being highly competitive and based on rigorous national-level entrance exams such as the IIT JEE.
IITs are known for their academic curriculum and for fostering critical thinking, entrepreneurship, and research-driven innovation. Their campuses host advanced laboratories, technology incubators, and international research collaborations. In short, IITs are engines of knowledge creation, leadership training, and national development, solidifying their role as the bedrock of India’s higher technical education system.
IIT stands for Indian Institute of Technology. These autonomous public technical and research universities are renowned for excellence in engineering, science, and technology education. They also hold global recognition for innovation, research, and high-quality graduates.
In a country where engineering is often viewed as a path to financial stability and social mobility, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) represent the pinnacle of opportunity. For both students and parents, knowing how many IIT colleges in India exist isn’t just about numbers; it reflects the breadth of access to quality education and the possibility of securing a seat in one of India’s most prestigious institutions. As the IIT ecosystem expands, it widens the net for aspirants who may not rank in the top few hundred nationally but still possess strong academic capabilities.
Each IIT offers distinct advantages based on location, specialization, faculty, infrastructure, and industry collaborations. Students have various choices, from iconic campuses like IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay to emerging institutions. Parents want to ensure their children can access institutions with strong placement records and comprehensive academic support. On the other hand, students are interested in identifying the top IIT in India that align with their specific interests, such as AI, mechanical engineering, or research-oriented careers.
Furthermore, with the increasing competitiveness of entrance exams like JEE Advanced, having more IITs means a larger IIT seat intake and greater chances of selection. The rise in IITs also signals the government’s commitment to decentralizing premier education and spreading technological development across different states. This makes the question “how many IITs in India 2025” informative and strategically crucial for academic planning, financial investment, and long-term career goals.
Understanding how many IITs in India exist helps students identify opportunities across different regions, compare top IIT colleges in India rank-wise, and evaluate their chances based on location, specialization, and entrance cutoffs. With new IITs planned and more IITs established in recent years, choices have expanded significantly, and the future of IIT in India looks increasingly promising under the guidance of the national education policy.
The concept of the Indian Institutes of Technology was first proposed in the post-independence period when India recognized the need to cultivate a highly skilled engineering workforce. The idea was heavily influenced by top institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and intended to serve as a foundation for India’s industrial and technological development. A committee led by British engineer Sir Nalini Ranjan Sarkar recommended the creation of these institutes to meet the growing demands of industry and nation-building.
Established in 1951, IIT Kharagpur was the first institution to emerge under this new model. Located in West Bengal, it was built on the former Hijli Detention Camp site, turning a place of colonial oppression into a symbol of intellectual freedom and technological advancement. Its founding laid the blueprint for future IITs, emphasizing academic rigor, global collaboration, and a strong research culture. It remains the oldest IIT in India and a cornerstone of the total IIT network in India.
The first wave of IITs laid the foundation for technical education in India. This generation included:
These institutes were strategically located across different regions of India to ensure balanced regional development and nationwide access to high-quality engineering education. These top IIT colleges in India, ranked, have since become iconic.
After several decades, the need for more IITs was recognized due to increasing student demand and the need to strengthen India’s technical education infrastructure. This led to the establishment of:
These IITs helped bridge regional gaps and allowed students from underserved regions to access elite education. This wave marked a significant step in how many IIT in India were functional at the time.
The third expansion wave emphasized greater inclusivity and access, particularly in remote and underrepresented regions. New IITs established during this period include:
These institutions were built to reflect modern educational needs with advanced infrastructure, cross-disciplinary curricula, and regional relevance. Their emergence signaled India’s ambition to expand how many IIT colleges in India exist and fulfill national educational goals under the national education policy. These campuses also reflect the future of IIT in India and support the vision behind the new IITs planned nationwide.
As of 2025, there are 23 IITs in India.
| Name of IIT | Year Established | State/Location | NIRF 2025 Ranking | Unique Features / Flagship Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Madras | 1959 | Tamil Nadu | 1 | Renowned for its strong emphasis on research and innovation, IIT Madras hosts the Research Park, fostering collaboration between academia and industry. |
| IIT Delhi | 1961 | Delhi | 2 | Offers interdisciplinary programs and has a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem with initiatives like the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT). |
| IIT Bombay | 1958 | Maharashtra | 3 | Known for its vibrant campus life and excellence in engineering education, IIT Bombay also emphasizes research in areas like nanotechnology and sustainable development. |
| IIT Kanpur | 1959 | Uttar Pradesh | 4 | Pioneered computer science education in India and is known for its rigorous academic curriculum and research output. |
| IIT Kharagpur | 1951 | West Bengal | 5 | Specializing in mining and earth sciences, reflecting its origins as the Indian School of Mines. |
| IIT Roorkee | 2001 (as IIT) | Uttarakhand | 6 | Established initially as Thomason College in 1847, it has a rich heritage and is renowned for its research in civil engineering and earthquake engineering. |
| IIT Guwahati | 1994 | Assam | 7 | Noted for its picturesque campus and research in areas like biotechnology and nanotechnology. |
| IIT Hyderabad | 2008 | Telangana | 8 | Implements a fractal academic system and emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and research. |
| IIT (BHU) Varanasi | 2012 (as IIT) | Uttar Pradesh | 10 | Integrates traditional engineering disciplines with modern technological advancements. |
| IIT Dhanbad (ISM) | 2016 (as IIT) | Jharkhand | 14 | Specializes in mining and earth sciences, reflecting its origins as the Indian School of Mines. |
| IIT Indore | 2009 | Madhya Pradesh | 16 | Focuses on research-driven education with state-of-the-art facilities. |
| IIT Ropar | 2008 | Punjab | 22 | Emphasizes research in areas like artificial intelligence and renewable energy. |
| IIT Gandhinagar | 2008 | Gujarat | 23 | Known for its student-centric approach and initiatives in design and innovation. |
| IIT Jodhpur | 2008 | Rajasthan | 30 | Offers programs in emerging areas like artificial intelligence and data science. |
| IIT Patna | 2008 | Bihar | 33 | Focuses on cutting-edge research in engineering and technology. |
| IIT Bhubaneswar | 2008 | Odisha | 36 | Integrates academic excellence with research in energy and environmental sustainability. |
| IIT Mandi | 2009 | Himachal Pradesh | 31 | Offers unique programs like the Integrated MBA in Data Science & AI and emphasizes interdisciplinary research. |
| IIT Palakkad | 2015 | Kerala | 64 | Focuses on fostering innovation and research in engineering disciplines. |
| IIT Tirupati | 2015 | Andhra Pradesh | 61 | Emphasizes research and development in core engineering areas. |
| IIT Jammu | 2016 | Jammu & Kashmir | 62 | Aims to be a leading center for research and innovation in the region. |
| IIT Bhilai | 2016 | Chhattisgarh | 73 | Focuses on research in areas like materials science and engineering. |
| IIT Dharwad | 2016 | Karnataka | Not Ranked | Offers programs in engineering and emphasizes research in affordable and clean energy. |
| IIT Goa | 2016 | Goa | Not Ranked | The oldest IIT offers a wide range of programs and focuses strongly on law, management, architecture, and engineering. |
This period marks the birth of the IIT system in India. It began with establishing IIT Kharagpur in 1951, laying the foundation of India’s most prestigious engineering education network. The government strategically set up the first few IITs to build advanced infrastructure and introduce modern teaching practices in collaboration with global partners.
At the turn of the century, a renewed focus was on expanding the IIT system to accommodate the growing demand for quality engineering education. New IITs were introduced during this phase to spread educational resources evenly nationwide.
This period emphasized increasing access to IIT-level education in remote and underserved regions. These new IITs were envisioned to deliver world-class education while addressing regional disparities.
Each phase of IIT expansion has been a calculated step in India’s long-term strategy to democratize access to elite engineering education, foster innovation, and promote balanced regional development.
Securing admission to an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is regarded as one of the most competitive and challenging processes in the Indian education system. Each year, lakhs of students appear for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), hoping to earn a seat in these prestigious institutions. The admission process is structured, merit-based, and governed by strict national guidelines.
To gain admission into any IIT, candidates must first appear for the JEE Main, the preliminary round conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Only the top-ranking students from JEE Main are eligible to sit for JEE Advanced, the actual entrance examination for IITs. JEE Advanced tests a student’s conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and is considered one of the toughest entrance exams in the world.
India’s IIT admission system also upholds affirmative action through reservation policies. Seats are reserved for different categories:
These policies ensure inclusive access to education while maintaining high academic standards.
As of 2025, the combined seat capacity across all 23 IITs exceeds 17,500. This includes general category seats, reserved category seats, and supernumerary seats introduced to promote female representation. The seat matrix varies annually and is published on the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) website after JEE Advanced results.
Over the past few years, the IIT admission landscape has evolved:
The IIT admission process is a multi-step, merit-driven system designed to select the most talented students across India. Aspirants need intense preparation, a strong academic foundation, and strategic planning to secure a place in these elite institutions.
The Indian government has consistently strengthened the IIT ecosystem to remain globally competitive. One of the most transformative steps was the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes research, innovation, and multidisciplinary learning. This initiative has allocated substantial funds to IITs to establish advanced laboratories, innovation hubs, and technology incubation centers. These investments promote cutting-edge research and foster an entrepreneurial culture among students and faculty. The Ministry of Education has also launched various funding schemes to support doctoral programs and faculty development, further enhancing the quality of education and research output at IITs.
IITs have recently initiated several strategic collaborations with international universities and research institutions. These partnerships have led to dual-degree programs, joint research initiatives, and global student exchange opportunities. Many IITs are now actively working with institutions in the USA, Germany, the UK, Japan, and Australia to promote knowledge sharing, collaborative research in emerging technologies, and academic mobility. Focus areas for these collaborations include Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductor development, clean energy, quantum computing, and climate resilience technologies. These international linkages enhance global visibility and bring in best practices from leading institutions abroad.
Recognizing the demand for high-quality technical education in underserved areas, the government is exploring the establishment of new IITs in regions that currently lack such infrastructure. Proposals are under review for setting up additional IITs in Uttar Pradesh and parts of the Northeastern states, as part of a broader vision to decentralize elite education and foster balanced regional growth. These new IITs, if approved, are expected to align with national goals like Digital India, Make in India, and Start-up India by offering specialized programs in advanced fields such as data analytics, cybersecurity, and sustainable engineering. Expanding IITs under such initiatives is critical to addressing the rising demand for STEM education and boosting India’s global innovation index.
India is home to 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), each playing a vital role in the nation’s scientific, technological, and economic development. These premier institutions are more than just engineering colleges; they are innovation hubs, research centers, and global talent incubators. With their rigorous academic standards and globally recognized degrees, IITs continue attracting the brightest minds nationwide.
Choosing the right IIT is not solely about rankings; it also involves aligning personal academic interests, program offerings, and future career goals. The IIT system offers diverse opportunities, from legacy institutions like IIT Kharagpur and IIT Bombay to newer campuses like IIT Bhilai and IIT Goa. As the government continues to invest in new IITs and enhance research infrastructure, the future of IIT in India looks even more promising, especially in emerging fields like AI, sustainability, and semiconductor technology.
Understanding how many IITs in India exist, how many IIT colleges in India are currently operational, and the implications of the IIT list 2025 is the first step for aspiring engineers toward making informed, strategic decisions that can shape a successful career in technology and beyond.
India currently hosts 23 IITs, each contributing to the nation’s growth through technical excellence and innovation. While prestige is a factor, selecting the right IIT depends on personal goals, location, and academic interests. If you would like to check out the free courses provided by IIT, you may check out the list of free courses provided by IITs in one of the articles supplied by Chegg.
According to the Ranking provided by NIRF, IIT Madras is ranked No. 1 among the IITs present in India.
1. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay
2. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi
3. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur
4. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur
5. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras
6. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati
7. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee
8. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad
9. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Patna
10. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bhubaneswar
11. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar
12. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jodhpur
13. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gandhinagar
14. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore
15. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi
16 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Varanasi (BHU)
17. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jammu
18. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Palakkad
19. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Tirupati
20. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Goa
21. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bhilai
22. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Dharwad
23. Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad
The only state having two IITs is Uttar Pradesh, which has IIT Kanpur and IIT Varanasi.
The largest IIT in India is IIT Kharagpur, which has a 2,100-acre campus. Making it India’s largest campus with a mini-township equipped with facilities and residents.
The person behind IIT was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who created the first IIT post-independence to instill technical knowledge within the new generation.
Authored by, Amay Mathur | Senior Editor
Amay Mathur is a business news reporter at Chegg.com. He previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. His areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. He is a Columbia University graduate.
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