Every year, lakhs of students dream of getting into the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). These institutes are known for excellence in engineering, science, and research. Students study for years, take coaching, and compete through JEE to enter an IIT. But have you ever wondered how this journey started? Which was the first IIT in India? Why was it established?
The story of the oldest IIT is more than just a date. It reflects India’s growth after independence, its focus on self-reliance, and its belief in the power of education. The first IIT was not just a college — it became a symbol of national progress and technical leadership.
In this article, you will find complete details about the oldest IIT, its history, and the top five IITs that followed. You’ll also learn how to prepare for IIT and make your way into these top institutions.
Which Is The Oldest IIT In India?
IIT Kharagpur is the oldest IIT in India. It was the first Indian Institute of Technology, set up in 1951 in Kharagpur, West Bengal. It was established to promote technical education in India after independence.
| No. | Name | Abbreviation | Founded | State/UT |
| 1 | IIT Kharagpur | IITKGP | 1951 | West Bengal |
| 2 | IIT Bombay | IITB | 1958 | Maharashtra |
| 3 | IIT Madras | IITM | 1959 | Tamil Nadu |
| 4 | IIT Kanpur | IITK | 1959 | Uttar Pradesh |
| 5 | IIT Delhi | IITD | 1961 | Delhi |
| 6 | IIT Guwahati | IITG | 1994 | Assam |
| 7 | IIT Roorkee | IITR | 1847(Converted as IIT 2002) | Uttarakhand |
| 8 | IIT Ropar | IITRPR | 2008 | Punjab |
| 9 | IIT Bhubaneswar | IITBBS | 2008 | Odisha |
| 10 | IIT Gandhinagar | IITGN | 2008 | Gujarat |
| 11 | IIT Hyderabad | IITH | 2008 | Telangana |
| 12 | IIT Jodhpur | IITJ | 2008 | Rajasthan |
| 13 | IIT Patna | IITP | 2008 | Bihar |
| 14 | IIT Indore | IITI | 2009 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 15 | IIT Mandi | IITMandi | 2009 | Himachal Pradesh |
| 16 | IIT (BHU) Varanasi | IIT BHU | 1919 (Converted as IIT 2012) | Uttar Pradesh |
| 17 | IIT Palakkad | IITPKD | 2015 | Kerala |
| 18 | IIT Tirupati | IITTP | 2015 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 19 | IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | IIT(ISM) | 1926 (Converted as IIT 2016) | Jharkhand |
| 20 | IIT Bhilai | IITBHILAI | 2016 | Chhattisgarh |
| 21 | IIT Dharwad | IITDH | 2016 | Karnataka |
| 22 | IIT Jammu | IITJMU | 2016 | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 23 | IIT Goa | IITGOA | 2016 | Goa |
History of IITs In India
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are among the most respected technical institutions in India. As of 2025, there are 23 IITs across the country. These are autonomous public technical universities that are known for high standards in engineering, science, technology, and research. The IITs are governed by the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961, which gives them the status of Institutes of National Importance.
This status means that the IITs play a big role in the development of India. They help create top engineers, scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs who work in India and abroad. The IITs have contributed to growth in fields like software, infrastructure, defence, energy, and manufacturing.
The Need for Technical Education Post-Independence
After India got independence in 1947, there was an urgent need to build a self-reliant nation. India needed engineers, scientists, and technologists to design and build roads, factories, power plants, and industries. India also needed experts to lead research and innovation.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, believed that “science and technology are the key to the future.” He wanted India to have world-class institutions that could train young minds and make India strong in engineering and science.
The Sarkar Committee Recommendation (1945)
In 1945, the Sarkar Committee, led by N.R. Sarkar, was formed to study technical education in India. The committee recommended setting up at least four higher technical institutes in the country. These institutes would be like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States.
The main points suggested by the committee included:
- Establishing high-standard engineering institutions.
- Selecting the best students through national-level exams.
- Creating strong links between education, research, and industry.
- Giving these institutes full academic and administrative freedom.
This vision laid the foundation for the Indian Institutes of Technology.
International Collaborations That Built IITs
Setting up the first few IITs was not easy. India took help from several friendly countries and international organizations to build infrastructure, design courses, and train faculty. Below is a table showing how different countries supported the creation of the first few IITs:
| IIT | Year Established | International Support | Key Contribution |
| IIT Kharagpur | 1951 | Indian Government | Built on Indian soil with strong national leadership |
| IIT Bombay | 1958 | UNESCO and Soviet Union | Equipment, faculty training, curriculum development |
| IIT Madras | 1959 | West Germany | Technical staff, machinery, and course structure |
| IIT Kanpur | 1959 | Consortium of US Universities (MIT, Caltech, etc.) | Exchange programs, labs, computing support |
| IIT Delhi | 1961 | United Kingdom | Initial setup, expert teachers, and faculty development |
These collaborations made sure that Indian students got exposure to global teaching methods and high-quality labs. In return, India promised to invest in education and promote local leadership.
The Top 5 Oldest IITs In India
India built its first five IITs between 1951 and 1961. These institutes set clear standards for teaching, research, and student culture. Each campus grew with help from both Indian leaders and foreign partners. Together, they shaped modern engineering education in the country.
| IIT | Year | State | Campus Size (approx.) | Key Strengths |
| Kharagpur | 1951 | West Bengal | 2,100 acres | Broad course list, largest campus |
| Bombay | 1958 | Maharashtra | 550 acres | Industry links, tech start‑ups |
| Madras | 1959 | Tamil Nadu | 620 acres | Research output, green campus |
| Kanpur | 1959 | Uttar Pradesh | 1,000 acres | Early computing, pure science |
| Delhi | 1961 | Delhi | 325 acres | Policy ties, design, management |
1) IIT Kharagpur — The Oldest IIT
IIT Kharagpur started in May 1950 and opened its doors to students on 18 August 1951. The campus sits on the grounds of the former Hijli Detention Camp. This change from a colonial jail to a center of learning marks a strong message of hope and progress. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru called the new institute “a fine monument of India” during the first convocation in 1956.
The campus stretches over 2,100 acres, making it the largest among all IITs. Students have access to vast lecture halls, 25+ hostels, advanced labs, and the grand Nehru Museum of Science and Technology. The Central Library holds more than 3.5 million books and journals. Wi‑Fi covers the hostels and academic blocks, so students can work at any hour.
Academically, IIT Kharagpur offers over 100 programs in engineering, sciences, management, law, and architecture. Unique schools such as the Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law and the Vinod Gupta School of Management add to its range. Faculty publish in top journals and guide many patents each year. Flagship research centers include the Center of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing, the Center for Artificial Intelligence, and the DHI‑IIT KGP MedTech Laboratory.
Student life stays busy. Techno‑Management fest Kshitij and cultural fest Spring Fest draw teams from across India. The Gymkhana supports sports such as athletics, aquatics, and even skydiving. Students also join social groups like National Service Scheme and Rural Technology Action Group, taking tech to nearby villages.
Placements remain strong. In recent years, average salaries crossed ₹19 lakh per annum, with global giants like Google, Microsoft, Airbus, and Tata Steel recruiting. Alumni include Sundar Pichai (CEO, Alphabet), Arun Saraf (co‑founder, EbixCash), and Arunabh Kumar (founder, The Viral Fever). Their success shows the reach of Kharagpur’s training.
The institute also supports start‑ups. STEP (Science and Technology Entrepreneurs’ Park) and the AI‑ML Innovation Hub give seed funds, labs, and mentors. Many student ventures now serve sectors such as clean energy, agri‑tech, and health‑tech.
IIT Kharagpur keeps its founding spirit alive: serve the nation with practical knowledge, social duty, and bold research.
2) IIT Bombay
IIT Bombay opened in 1958 at Powai, Mumbai, with strong support from UNESCO and the Soviet Union. Equipment worth millions of dollars flowed in, and Soviet experts trained the first faculty. The Powai campus, spread across a scenic lakefront, now covers about 550 acres and houses lush gardens, modern lecture complexes, and more than 16 hostels.
The institute offers B.Tech., Dual Degree, M.Tech., MBA, and Ph.D. programs in 15 departments and 30+ centers. Flagship schools include the Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management, the IDC School of Design, and the Center for Policy Studies. IIT Bombay leads in Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, Energy Science, and Nanotechnology. Breakthrough projects such as Coronil (COVID‑19 rapid screening kit) and India’s first indigenous micro‑satellite Pratham began here.
Research culture thrives, supported by the Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility and the new National Center for Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilization. Annual R&D funds exceed ₹400 crore, with ongoing collaborations with CSIR, ISRO, and Airbus. The institute files 150+ patents every year and often ranks first in India for research impact per faculty.
Student life is vibrant. The tech festival Techfest attracts global innovators, while Mood Indigo, Asia’s largest college cultural festival, showcases music, dance, and arts. Clubs cover robotics, debating, racing cars, and even street plays. Sports fans enjoy synthetic tracks, Olympic‑size pools, and a climbing wall.
IIT Bombay has an unmatched start‑up scene. SINE (Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) has incubated more than 220 ventures, raising over ₹3,000 crore. Unicorns like FirstCry and deep‑tech firms like Seclore started here. In 2024, Bombay graduates secured an average package of ₹25 lakh and a highest international offer near ₹3 crore.
Famous alumni list is long: Nandan Nilekani (Infosys co‑founder), Manohar Parrikar (former Defence Minister), Bhavish Aggarwal (Ola founder), and Nitesh Tiwari (film director). They show how IIT Bombay nurtures skill, creativity, and leadership.
Community outreach is strong. Programs such as Abhyuday spread awareness of mental health, sustainability, and rural development. A strong student‑alumni network funds scholarships and milestone projects like the Green Campus Initiative. IIT Bombay blends academic depth, industry reach, and cultural variety. Its location in India’s financial hub gives students daily links to start‑ups, corporate giants, and research labs.
3) IIT Madras
IIT Madras came into being in 1959 through an agreement between India and West Germany. German aid included machinery, faculty exchange, and a clear course design. The 620‑acre campus sits inside the Guindy Reserve Forest, giving students a peaceful, green setting rich with deer and rare birds.
Courses span 17 departments and many interdisciplinary centers. Flagship units include the Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, and Robert Bosch Center for Data Science and AI. IIT Madras leads national rankings for research papers, patents, and sponsored projects. In 2024, it became the first Indian institution to top the QS India University Ranking for six straight years.
Innovations stay practical. The Sudarshan navigation system powers drones, and the IIT M Plasma Motor aims for small‑satellite propulsion. The institute’s Center for Innovation (CFI), run by students, built the hyper‑loop pod Avishkar that reached the finals at SpaceX competitions.
Campus life mixes study with rich culture. Saarang, the cultural fest, draws 70,000 visitors. Shaastra, the tech fest, is the first in India certified ISO 9001. Clubs include Sailing, Classical Music, Blockchain, and Honda Racing. Hostel zones are called Mandak, Sarag, or Jam and each hosts its own events.
Placements see consistent growth. The class of 2025 earned an average salary of ₹22 lakh. Firms like Texas Instruments, Micron, McKinsey, and Google line up to hire. The Gopalakrishnan‑Deshpande Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship guides student founders. Start‑ups such as Ather Energy (electric scooters) and AgniKul Cosmos (private rockets) came from IIT Madras labs.
Alumni win global praise. Anant Agarwal created edX, Kris Gopalakrishnan grew Infosys, and V. Kamath headed the New Development Bank. Many serve as faculty in leading universities abroad.
Sustainability stays central. The campus has its own lake water‑recycling plant, solar roofs, and India’s first zinc‑air battery microgrid. Students join the Green Brigade to plant trees and track energy use. IIT Madras pairs strong research with a culture of open ideas, making it a top pick for students who seek both depth and balance.
4) IIT Kanpur
IIT Kanpur began operations in 1959 in the borrowed rooms of Harcourt Butler Technological Institute. By 1963, it moved to its 1,000‑acre campus along the Grand Trunk Road. A unique feature of its birth was the Kanpur Indo‑American Program (KIAP). Nine US universities—MIT, Caltech, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley, Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan, and Case Western Reserve—sent professors, donated equipment, and helped draft the syllabi.
Kanpur introduced India’s first computer science course in 1963 using an IBM 1620. Today, it hosts the National Supercomputing Mission system “Param Sangnak,” giving students 10 petaflops of computing power. Departments shine in Aerospace, Materials Science, Physics, and Cognitive Science. Multidisciplinary centers include the Center for Cyber Security of Critical Infrastructure, SIIC (Startup Incubation and Innovation Center), and National Wind Tunnel Facility.
Classrooms follow the semester system with continuous evaluation, a first in India at that time. Faculty maintain an open‑door policy; students can walk in for doubt clearing. Labs run round the clock, letting project teams test drones, rockets, and solar cars.
Student culture values curiosity and freedom. Antaragni is a top cultural fest, and Techkriti drives contests in coding, business, and design. Clubs range from Astronomy to Hip‑hop. The Students’ Gymkhana governs campus life and runs its own radio station Hello 946.
Placements stay strong; the 2024 cohort saw an average offer of ₹21.6 lakh. Core engineering firms such as Airbus, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, and DRDO line up, as well as consult majors like BCG and fintech firms such as Squarepoint. SIIC has aided 400+ start‑ups, with ventures like E‑Spin Nanotech and Ideas (AI in farming) making global impact.
Alumni inspire many. Late Rajeev Motwani mentored Google founders; N. R. Narayana Murthy spent a semester here; Ashoke Sen won the Fundamental Physics Prize. The alumni association funds scholarships and the Golden Jubilee Research Building, one of India’s greenest labs.
Social outreach is strong too. Programs such as IITK‑Infra send solar devices to villages, and the Nirmal Initiative designs low‑cost toilets. Kanpur’s Open Source mentors helped create E‑Siksha, now used by thousands of rural schools. IIT Kanpur combines pure science depth, engineering grit, and a free campus spirit. Its legacy of early computing and global ties keeps it on the cutting edge.
5) IIT Delhi
IIT Delhi began in 1961 as the College of Engineering & Technology and became an IIT in 1963. The United Kingdom offered initial faculty training and lab gear. The 325‑acre campus lies in Hauz Khas, close to diplomatic enclaves and central ministries.
The institute has 16 departments and 35 centers, covering areas from Applied Mechanics to Public Policy. Flagship units include the Bharti School of Telecommunication, School of Public Policy, and Kusuma School of Biological Sciences. IIT Delhi pioneered many new programs, such as the B.Tech. in Engineering & Computational Mechanics and the M.S. (Research) in Cybersecurity.
Research funding surpasses ₹500 crore yearly. Key labs like the National Resource Centre for Value Engineering and the FitVidya Health AI Hub address national problems. The campus houses the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), India’s oldest academic TTO, which files more than 200 patents each year.
Student festivals energize campus life. Rendezvous is a major cultural fest with over 200 events, while Tryst covers tech contests and industry talks. Clubs include Entrepreneurship Development Cell, Quizzing Club, and Hindi Dramatics. A modern sports complex supports hockey, athletics, squash, and a new skating rink.
Placements set high records. In 2025, the average salary reached ₹24.5 lakh, with top global offers crossing ₹2.5 crore. Recruiters span Google, Goldman Sachs, ISRO, and Schlumberger. FITT’s incubator houses over 200 start‑ups such as Clensta (waterless hygiene) and NanoSafe (antiviral fabrics).
Alumni excel in many fields: Raghuram Rajan served as RBI Governor, Chetan Bhagat is a best‑selling author, Binny Bansal co‑founded Flipkart, and Vivek Raghavan led Aadhaar’s tech team. They return often to mentor students and sponsor labs.
Being in Delhi gives policy reach. Faculty advise NITI Aayog, ministries, and think tanks. The Technopreneur Promotion Programme pairs student ideas with government grants. IIT Delhi also runs the Amar Nath and Shashi Khosla School of Information Technology to train officials in AI and data use.
Sustainability drives campus plans. Rooftop solar panels generate 2 MW, and the institute runs India’s first academic hydrogen microgrid. A new Metro Skywalk links the campus to the Yellow Line, cutting commute time. IIT Delhi mixes strong academics, policy engagement, and hustle, giving students a front‑row seat to research and nation‑building.
Conclusion
The IIT system in India started with a strong vision. It aimed to train engineers and scientists who could help build a new India. The first step in this journey was the creation of IIT Kharagpur in 1951. This institute, built on the site of a former prison, became a symbol of India’s transformation through education.
Following Kharagpur, other IITs like Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, and Delhi were established with international help. Today, all these IITs are leaders in technical education. They produce top researchers, innovators, and global leaders every year.
For students, getting into an IIT is a dream worth working for. With hard work, clear planning, and smart preparation, this dream can become reality. Learning about the history and strength of these institutions helps us appreciate their role in India’s progress.
Now that you know which is the oldest IIT and how it all began, your IIT journey can start with inspiration and purpose.
