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

The total estimated cost for this phase of development is Rs 11,828.79 crore and will be spread over four years from 2025-26 to 2028-29. The expansion includes the construction of new facilities and the creation of 130 faculty positions at the level of Professor (Level 14 and above). As part of the expansion, five new state-of-the-art research parks are also being developed to boost industry-academia collaboration.

Upon completion, the combined capacity of these five IITs will increase from the current 7,111 students to 13,687, marking a net increase of 6,576 students. The initiative is expected to generate direct employment through the hiring of faculty, research staff, administrative personnel, and support teams. Additionally, the infrastructure development will stimulate local economies through increased demand for housing, transport, and services in the regions surrounding the campuses. The expanded graduate and postgraduate output is also projected to enhance India’s innovation and startup landscape, contributing to broader employment generation across sectors.