Government Shifts Higher Education Focus to University Townships, No New IITs or IIMs Announced
The Government of India has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to quality higher education while indicating that there are currently no proposals to establish new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), or Central maritime institutions during the current financial year. This information was provided by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 130, answered on July 20, 2026.
Expansion of Higher Education Institutions Since 2014
The Ministry highlighted the significant growth of centrally funded higher educational institutions over the past decade. Since 2014, six new IITs have been established in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Goa, and Karnataka. In addition, the Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad, was upgraded to an IIT in 2016, taking the total number of IITs in the country to 23.
The network of Indian Institutes of Management has also expanded considerably. Eight new IIMs have been established in Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam. Furthermore, the National Institute for Training in Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai, was converted into IIM Mumbai in 2023, increasing the total number of IIMs to 22.
The Government also established NIT Andhra Pradesh in 2015, raising the number of National Institutes of Technology to 31. Sixteen new Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) have been added across various states, including West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar, and Tripura, taking the total number of IIITs from nine before 2014 to 25.
Similarly, two new Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) have been established in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The number of Central Universities has increased from 40 to 48 with the establishment of new universities in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi, and Ladakh.
In the health education sector, the Government stated that 16 new AIIMS were approved after 2014. Of these, 12 have become operational in states including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Jammu, and Gujarat, while four remain under various stages of establishment.
No New IITs, IIMs, NITs or AIIMS This Year
Responding to questions regarding fresh proposals during the current financial year, particularly for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the Ministry clarified that no new IITs, IIMs, NITs, AIIMS, or maritime institutions have been announced or allocated budgetary support in the Union Budget 2026–27.
Instead, the Government has introduced a new initiative aimed at strengthening higher education infrastructure through the establishment of five University Townships near major industrial and logistics corridors.
University Townships to Boost Research and Innovation
The proposed University Townships, announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, will be developed in partnership with states through a challenge-based selection process. These integrated academic hubs are expected to host multiple universities, colleges, research institutions, skill development centres, innovation and incubation facilities, industry partnerships, and residential complexes.
The initiative seeks to create world-class academic ecosystems that promote research, innovation, industry collaboration, and sustainable urban development while supporting regional economic growth.
Institution Creation Remains an Ongoing Process
Addressing the issue of pending proposals, the Ministry did not provide a state-wise list of applications awaiting approval. Instead, it stated that establishing higher educational institutions is a continuous process driven by emerging needs and policy priorities.
The Government also reiterated that education is a subject on the Concurrent List of the Constitution, making it a shared responsibility of both the Central and State Governments. It emphasized that future expansion of higher educational institutions will continue to align with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which seeks to improve access, equity, inclusion, and quality in higher education across the country.
Overall, while the current year does not see the announcement of new IITs, IIMs, NITs, or AIIMS, the Government’s focus has shifted toward creating integrated University Townships as a new model for expanding India’s higher education and research ecosystem.
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