Cabinet Approves Expansion of Five IITs Including Chhattisgarh; 6,500 New Seats to Be Added
On May 7, the Union Cabinet of India approved the Phase-B expansion of infrastructure and academic capacity at five newly established Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in the states and union territories of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Karnataka.
According to an official statement, the total cost for this expansion is estimated at ₹11,828.79 crore, to be incurred over four years from 2025-26 to 2028-29. Additionally, the Cabinet has approved the creation of 130 faculty positions at the professor level in these institutions.
To further strengthen industry-academia relations, five new state-of-the-art research parks will also be established.
Targeted IITs for Expansion
- IIT Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh)
- IIT Palakkad (Kerala)
- IIT Bhilai (Chhattisgarh)
- IIT Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir)
- IIT Dharwad (Karnataka)
The student capacity at these IITs is expected to increase by over 6,500 over the next four years. This includes first-year increases of 1,364 students, followed by 1,738 in the second year, 1,767 in the third, and 1,707 in the fourth year.
Upon completion of construction, these five IITs will be able to accommodate 13,687 students, compared to the current capacity of 7,111 — a net increase of 6,576 students.
This expansion will allow more students to access education in India’s top engineering institutions and help meet the growing demand for skilled professionals across the country.
Impact and Benefits
The expansion is expected to contribute to nation-building by producing a highly skilled workforce, promoting innovation, and accelerating economic growth. It also aims to improve social mobility and reduce educational inequality while strengthening India's position globally.
Moreover, the growth of IIT campuses will stimulate local economies through increased demand for housing, transport, and services.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced this initiative in the Union Budget 2025-26.
IITs in Palakkad and Tirupati began their academic sessions in 2015-16, while IIT Bhilai, Jammu, and Dharwad started in 2016-17 from temporary campuses. All are now functioning from permanent campuses.