List of IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) in India

 List of IITs in India: A Comprehensive Guide to India’s Premier Engineering Institutes

Here is the List of all the IITs in India

1. IIT Kharagpur (West Bengal)
2. IIT Bombay (Maharashtra)
3. IIT Madras (Tamil Nadu)
4. IIT Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
5. IIT Delhi (Delhi) 
6. IIT Guwahati (Assam)
7. IIT Roorkee (Uttarakhand)
8. IIT Ropar (Punjab)
9. IIT Bhubaneswar (Odisha)
10. IIT Gandhinagar (Gujarat)
11. IIT Hyderabad (Telengana State)
12. IIT Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
13. IIT Patna (Bihar)
14. IIT Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
15. IIT Mandi (Himachal Pradesh)
16. IIT (BHU) Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
17. IIT Palakkad (Kerala)
18. IIT Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh)
19. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad (Jharkhand)
20. IIT Bhilai (Chhattisgarh)
21. IIT Dharwad (Karnataka)
22. IIT Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir)
23. IIT Goa (Goa)

List of IIT in India

India’s engineering landscape is globally renowned, thanks in large part to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Established with the goal of fostering excellence in engineering education, the IITs have evolved into world-class institutions producing top-tier engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. As of 2025, India is home to 23 IITs, each operating under the guidance of the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India.

This article provides a deep dive into all the IITs, exploring their foundation, specializations, admission processes, achievements, and more.

The Genesis of IITs in India

The concept of the Indian Institutes of Technology was inspired by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and other prestigious global universities. The first IIT, IIT Kharagpur, was established in 1951 in the aftermath of India’s independence, aiming to build a strong technological foundation for the country.

The success of IIT Kharagpur led to the establishment of more IITs over the decades. These institutes were created not only to produce engineers but to serve as research hubs, innovation centers, and contributors to national development.

Admission to IITs

Admission to undergraduate programs in IITs is conducted through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Advanced). Candidates must first qualify the JEE Main, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). For postgraduate programs like M.Tech, admission is through GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering). Doctoral admissions are conducted separately by each IIT.

List of IITs in India (As of 2025)

Here is a detailed look at each of the 23 IITs in India:

1. IIT Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) – West Bengal

Established: 1951

Notable Features: The oldest and one of the largest IITs, known for its heritage, research output, and broad spectrum of courses.

Specialties: Architecture, Law, AI, Aerospace

Campus Size: Over 2,100 acres

2. IIT Bombay (IIT-B) – Maharashtra

Established: 1958

Known For: Strong tech entrepreneurship culture, global research collaborations

Highlights: Proximity to Mumbai’s business hub, extensive startup incubation

Top Departments: Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical

3. IIT Madras (IIT-M) – Tamil Nadu

Established: 1959

Specialty: Innovation and deep-tech research

Ranking: Regularly ranks No. 1 in NIRF

Known For: Incubation Cell, Research Park, interdisciplinary research

4. IIT Kanpur (IIT-K) – Uttar Pradesh

Established: 1959

Noted For: R&D, academic rigor, and high research output

Famous Initiative: National Centre for Flexible Electronics

Strengths: Computer Science, Aerospace, Chemistry

5. IIT Delhi (IIT-D) – Delhi

Established: 1961

Known For: Strategic location, international collaborations

Highlights: Excellent placements, strong alumni base

Top Branches: Electrical Engineering, Management Studies

6. IIT Guwahati (IIT-G) – Assam

Established: 1994

Region: North East India

Known For: Scenic campus, growing research influence

Specialties: Biotechnology, ECE, Design

7. IIT Roorkee (IIT-R) – Uttarakhand

Established: 1847 (as Thomason College), became IIT in 2001

Legacy: One of the oldest engineering colleges in Asia

Known For: Civil Engineering, Hydrology, Earth Sciences

8. IIT Bhubaneswar (IIT-BBS) – Odisha

Established: 2008

Location: Coastal state, rich in minerals and tech growth

Strengths: Metallurgy, Civil, Ocean Engineering

9. IIT Gandhinagar (IIT-GN) – Gujarat

Established: 2008

Known For: Liberal curriculum, student-centric model

Highlights: Global immersion programs, emphasis on humanities

10. IIT Hyderabad (IIT-H) – Telangana

Established: 2008

Fastest Growing: Known for AI/ML research

Infrastructure: State-of-the-art labs, smart classrooms

11. IIT Jodhpur (IIT-J) – Rajasthan

Established: 2008

Focus Areas: Smart mobility, AI, digital health

Campus: Modern, energy-efficient design

12. IIT Patna (IIT-P) – Bihar

Established: 2008

Strengths: CS, Mechanical, ECE

Highlights: Strong academia-industry collaborations

13. IIT Ropar (IIT-RPR) – Punjab

Established: 2008

Known For: Environmental sustainability, data science research

Campus: Modern and research-friendly environment

14. IIT Indore (IIT-I) – Madhya Pradesh

Established: 2009

Specialty: Materials science, Astronomy

Research Output: Increasing rapidly in recent years

15. IIT Mandi (IIT-Mandi) – Himachal Pradesh

Established: 2009

Location: Himalayan region

Known For: Clean energy, biomedical engineering, sustainability

16. IIT (BHU) Varanasi – Uttar Pradesh

Established: 1919 (became IIT in 2012)

Affiliation: Integrated with Banaras Hindu University

Legacy: One of India’s oldest engineering colleges

17. IIT Palakkad (IIT-PKD) – Kerala

Established: 2015

Known For: Applied research, emphasis on electronics and design

Upcoming Facilities: Permanent campus under development

18. IIT Tirupati (IIT-TP) – Andhra Pradesh

Established: 2015

Strengths: Mechanical, Civil, Computer Science

Vision: Focus on interdisciplinary research

19. IIT Bhilai (IIT-BH) – Chhattisgarh

Established: 2016

Focus: Developing computing technologies and automation

Infrastructure: Developing in phases with modern labs

20. IIT Goa (IIT-G) – Goa

Established: 2016

Unique Feature: Tropical research relevance, CS-focused growth

Student Life: Vibrant and inclusive

21. IIT Jammu (IIT-JM) – Jammu and Kashmir

Established: 2016

Specialties: AI, smart infrastructure

Vision: R&D for Himalayan and border region sustainability

22. IIT Dharwad (IIT-DWD) – Karnataka

Established: 2016

Focus Areas: Embedded systems, IoT, Machine Learning

Collaborations: Close ties with IIIT and ISRO projects

23. IIT Dhanbad (IIT-ISM) – Jharkhand

Formerly: Indian School of Mines (ISM)

Upgraded to IIT: 2016

Famous For: Mining, Petroleum, and Earth Sciences

Key Features Across All IITs

While each IIT has its distinct identity, some common traits unite them:

Academic Rigor: All IITs follow a challenging curriculum with an emphasis on research, innovation, and hands-on experience.

Research Facilities: World-class laboratories and funding for both undergraduate and postgraduate research.

Global Exposure: Many IITs have MoUs with international universities for student exchange, dual degrees, and collaborative research.

Entrepreneurship: Most IITs house incubation cells and entrepreneurship development centers.

Campus Life: Rich in extracurriculars—cultural fests, tech festivals, hackathons, and student clubs thrive.

IIT Rankings and Global Reputation

India’s IITs consistently rank in the QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education, and NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework). IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, and IIT Delhi often appear in the top 200 globally.

IIT alumni have reached great heights, including CEOs of global giants (e.g., Sundar Pichai of Google, Arvind Krishna of IBM), researchers, scientists, bureaucrats, and entrepreneurs.

Contributions to Nation Building

IITs have played a critical role in:

Developing cutting-edge technology for sectors like space (ISRO), defense (DRDO), and energy.

Producing top-tier graduates who contribute to the economy both in India and globally.

Driving innovation and startups through their robust incubation ecosystems.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite their excellence, IITs face challenges:

Faculty shortages in emerging disciplines

Retaining top talent within India

Bridging gaps between academia and industry

Promoting interdisciplinary education

The government is addressing these by promoting internationalization, allowing foreign faculty, encouraging IITs to set up campuses abroad (like the upcoming IITs in UAE and Africa), and increasing funding.

Final Thoughts

The Indian Institutes of Technology have been instrumental in transforming India’s education and technological landscape. With their unmatched commitment to academic excellence, research, and innovation, the IITs continue to shape the future of India and influence the world at large.

Whether you're an aspiring engineer, a policymaker, or just a curious learner, understanding the depth, breadth, and potential of these 23 IITs offers a window into India’s greatest centers of knowledge.