Cabinet approves Rs 11,828 crore for expansion of five IITs

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a major expansion plan for five Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) established after 2014. These include IITs in Andhra Pradesh (Tirupati), Kerala (Palakkad), Chhattisgarh (Bhilai), Jammu & Kashmir (Jammu), and Karnataka (Dharwad).

The expansion plan called Phase-B construction has a total outlay of INR 11,828.79 crore and will be implemented over four years from 2025-26 to 2028-29. The goal is to significantly enhance academic and physical infrastructure at these IITs, which are among the youngest in the country.

The move will allow these institutes to accommodate 6,576 more students, raising their combined capacity from 7,111 to 13,687. This expansion will include students at undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD levels. The phased growth will see 1,364 additional students in the first year, increasing to 1,738 in the second, 1,767 in the third, and 1,707 in the fourth year.

In terms to support the larger student intake, the Cabinet has also approved the creation of 130 new faculty positions at the professor level (Level 14 and above). This expansion is expected to generate direct employment opportunities, not just for faculty but also for administrative staff, researchers, and support personnel.

Beyond direct employment, the development is expected to stimulate local economies through increased demand for housing, transportation, and other services around these IIT campuses.

Another key highlight of the Cabinet’s decision is the establishment of five new state-of-the-art research parks, one at each of the selected IITs. These parks aim to enhance collaboration between academia and industry, driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and the development of cutting-edge technologies.

By bridging the gap between research and commercial application, these parks are expected to significantly contribute to India’s growing startup ecosystem and boost industrial R&D capabilities.

While the IITs are located in specific states, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Karnataka, their admissions are open to students across India. This means the benefits of this infrastructure boost will be felt nationwide.

The expansion aligns with the Union Budget 2025-26 announcement, which highlighted that the total student strength in all 23 IITs has doubled from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh over the past decade. The new investment will build on this growth trajectory by further widening access to India’s premier technical institutes.