Last Updated: May 2026
The Government of India has approved a multi-year expansion plan for five third-generation Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to strengthen academic infrastructure and increase access to higher technical education. The proposal received Union Cabinet approval on May 7, 2025, after being announced during the Union Budget 2025-26 by Nirmala Sitharaman.
According to information released by the Ministry of Education and the Press Information Bureau (PIB) in 2025, the Centre has sanctioned ₹11,828.79 crore for the project between the 2025-26 and 2028-29 academic sessions. The expansion programme includes IIT Bhilai, IIT Dharwad, IIT Jammu, IIT Palakkad and IIT Tirupati.
The approved implementation roadmap projects a combined addition of 6,576 seats over four academic years. The first phase begins in the 2025-26 session with 1,364 new seats across the five institutes.
IITs Included in the Expansion Plan
|
IIT |
Planned Additional Seats |
|
IIT Bhilai |
1,485 |
|
IIT Dharwad |
1,473 |
|
IIT Jammu |
1,288 |
|
IIT Palakkad |
1,264 |
|
IIT Tirupati |
1,066 |
IIT Goa has not been included in the present phase because the institute is yet to complete its transition to a permanent campus.
Year-Wise Seat Expansion Schedule
|
Academic Session |
Planned Seat Increase |
|
2025-26 |
1,364 |
|
2026-27 |
1,738 |
|
2027-28 |
1,767 |
|
2028-29 |
1,707 |
As per the approved implementation schedule, the highest projected intake increase is expected during the 2027-28 academic session.
Institute-Wise Seat Distribution
|
Institute |
2025-26 |
2026-27 |
2027-28 |
2028-29 |
|
IIT Bhilai |
378 |
381 |
378 |
348 |
|
IIT Dharwad |
343 |
410 |
345 |
466 |
|
IIT Jammu |
251 |
401 |
373 |
263 |
|
IIT Palakkad |
193 |
291 |
372 |
408 |
|
IIT Tirupati |
199 |
255 |
290 |
322 |
Faculty Recruitment and Campus Development
To support the planned rise in student intake, the government has approved 130 additional faculty positions across the participating IITs. Ministry-related updates indicate that recruitment activity has started in several departments.
Campus development work under the expansion programme includes additional classrooms, laboratories, hostels, research facilities and student infrastructure. Officials have stated that infrastructure growth will be implemented alongside seat expansion to maintain teaching standards and research quality.
The initiative also reflects a broader effort to improve institutional capacity at newer IIT campuses, many of which have been gradually expanding their academic programmes and research output over the past decade.
Educational and Policy Context
Competition for IIT admissions through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) system has remained high for several years, particularly at older IIT campuses with limited intake growth. The latest expansion is expected to improve access to engineering education by increasing capacity at newer institutions located across different regions of the country.
Policy analysts have noted that strengthening newer IIT campuses could help improve regional access to advanced STEM education while supporting long-term research and innovation goals. Several of these institutes are located in areas where access to premier engineering institutions has historically been limited.
According to government projections released in 2025, the combined student strength of these five IITs is expected to increase from 7,111 students to 13,687 students by the 2028-29 academic session, representing a significant increase in institutional capacity.
Safety and Verification Advisory
Candidates should rely only on official portals of JoSAA, the Ministry of Education, NTA and the respective IITs for counselling schedules, admission notices and seat-related updates. Applicants are advised not to share OTPs, passwords or payment details with unofficial agents, counselling groups or unverified websites. Government authorities do not request payments outside authorised admission procedures.
Official Source Guidance and Disclaimer
This article is based on Ministry of Education updates, PIB releases and official institutional information available as of May 2026. Readers should verify counselling schedules, admission timelines and seat matrices through authorised government and IIT portals, as intake figures and implementation schedules may be revised through future official notifications.