IITs

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are a group of autonomous public technical universities in India that focus on engineering, science, design and allied disciplines, with a strong emphasis on research and innovation. They operate under the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961, and are coordinated through the IIT Council. Each IIT is governed by its own board of governors and administered by a director, with additional statutory bodies handling various academic and administrative functions.

The first IIT was established at Kharagpur in 1951, with subsequent institutes at Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur and Madras emerging in the 1950s and 1960s. Over time, the network expanded to include more campuses across the country. As of 2023, there are 23 IITs located across India, funded by the central government and integrated into the national higher education framework.

Academic programs at IITs span undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels in engineering, sciences, architecture and management. Undergraduate admission is typically through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main followed by JEE Advanced, with the latter used for admission to most IITs. Postgraduate admissions commonly rely on GATE for MTech programs and IIT JAM for certain MSc and related degrees, while many IITs also offer management and other specialized programs.

IITs are recognized for their rigorous curricula, competitive admissions, and strong emphasis on research and industry collaboration. They have a prominent role in producing engineering and technical professionals, researchers, and entrepreneurs, contributing significantly to India's technology sector and higher education landscape.