IIT - Indian Institute of Technology

Indian Institute of Technology is popular for technical education in India and holds national importance for research in various technical fields. These institutes also rank higher in the top institutes in Asia. IITs are in demand as they offer all-around development to enrolled students and play a major role in starting their careers.

IITs make students successful through the courses offered. Indian students are attracted by the IITs, as these are prestigious institutes of the country. The process and preparation for the exam are all worth it as IITs offer programs that are of the level of the top institutes worldwide.

History

1945: The government of India appointed a committee of educators, industrialists, and scientists, with twenty-two members. Sir Ardeshir Dalal founded the committee. The aim of the committee was to support industrial development with an adequate supply of technical personnel. Four Higher Technical Institutions were made on the recommendation of the committee in the north, south, east, and west. The model of the IITs was inspired by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Afterwards, IIT Kolkata was built near Calcutta, and IIT Bombay was established near Mumbai.

1950: Sir J.C. Ghosh became the founding director of the first institute, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in 1950.

1951: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, education minister then, inaugurated IIT Kharagpur in West Bengal in August 1951.

1952: The cornerstone for the institute was laid on 3 March 1951 by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

1956: It was opened on 21 April 1956, and the Indian Parliament passed an act known as the Indian Institute Technology (Kharagpur) Act. It was done on 15 September 1956 on the convocation of the first graduates of IIT Kharagpur.

1958: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) was formed in collaboration with the Soviet Union in 1958.

1959: IIT Madras was established in collaboration with West Germany in 1959.

1960: 1960 is the year of the formation of the IIT Kanpur, which collaborates with a few top American Universities led by MIT.

1961: An act known as the Institutes of Technology Act was passed by the Indian Parliament; it declared each IIT as an 'Institution of Importance'.

1963: College of Engineering and Technology was upgraded to form IIT Delhi. It was established at Hauz Khas in New Delhi and was formed in collaboration with the British.

1995: IIT Guwahati was established near the Brahmaputra River in Assam. It was the sixth IIT. IIT Guwahati did not have any formal collaboration with any other country. By the time IIT Guwahati was established, the system of IITs had become strong. The creation of IIT Guwahati was done for the development of the Northeast region of India. Some local leaders initiated the project of development, and it was a part of the Assam Accord reached by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

2001: The University of Roorkee, which is the oldest technical institute of India, became an IIT on 21 September 2001, and it came to be known as the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. The upgradation of the University of Roorkee to IIT Roorkee took place through an ordinance by the president of India. It was situated in Uttaranchal, which was a newly created state at that time.

The First IIT

IIT Kharagpur is the first and one of the largest technical institutes of India. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in almost all disciplines of engineering and technology. The institute is popular for its largest technical library in Asia. The computing facilities at IIT Kharagpur are also one of the largest computing facilities in India. There are 19 academic departments, 9 research centers, and 8 academic centers and schools in IIT Kharagpur.

The Process of Admission

Indian students are attracted by the IIT, as these are prestigious institutes of the country. However, the admission process is rigorous, and students have to go through it to get into IITs. The process and preparation for the exam are all worth it as IITs offer programs that are of the level of the top institutes worldwide.

Joint Entrance Examination is conducted for undergraduate admissions, and passing the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is necessary for postgraduate admissions in IITs. It is tough to compete in these exams as only 2 percent of the students who undergo screening are selected for the final admissions. The newly added programs at IITs are Master of Science in various science and mathematics and Master of Business Administration.

IITs offer a four-year program bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) to undergraduate students, and it is offered in various engineering branches in seven IITs. A candidate must write and qualify the national-level entrance exam in science and mathematics to be eligible for admission to any IITs. Additionally, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee offer a bachelor of architecture (B.Arch.), a five-year program. There are some prerequisites to be eligible for financial assistance from the government. These include passing GATE, bachelor's degree in engineering (for M.Tech. admissions).

Vision and Development

Every IIT has a different set of vision and mission. However, there is something that remains the same about these statements. These statements include education, creativity, excellence, holistic scope, nurturing academic freedom, innovation, integrity, and overall development. IITs emphasize national relevance and global understanding, and this system strives for the best quality in all endeavors.

IIT Delhi aims at development in technology transfer and innovation. The technology and Business incubation units are established to promote the knowledge of science and generate research ideas. Science and Technology Entrepreneurship parks are located in IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee. The other IITs take many such programs and initiatives that aim to promote entrepreneurship and technology transfer. Major contributions in the field of communication systems are made by the IIT Madras, which promotes technology transfer.

Advantages of studying at IITs

Best opportunities for students: Students get several opportunities to show their talent, enhance skills and learn new things. IITs support students and help them build new skills in different fields like coding, robotics, or any other field that interests the student.
Scholarships and other financial aids: IITs have many scholarship programs for needy students. Additionally, IITs have fewer tuition fees as compared to the same-level private colleges.
Get to interact with the best professors: Studying in IITs means being taught by the best professors in the country. They guide students and encourage them for innovative projects and research.
Opportunity to interact with brilliant minds: Students that study in IITs come from all over the country. They all have different skills, talents, and thoughts, and therefore students learn from their peers.
Best internships across the World: IITs offer opportunities that shape the careers of students. Students can study in foreign universities through their student exchange programs, ensuring great internship and research opportunities.
Support of great mentors and alumni: Pass-outs from IITs become mentors of juniors. Alumni help juniors in innovative projects and business ideas by providing funds and sponsoring projects.

Entrance Exams for IITs

JEE

The Joint Entrance Exam is popularly known as the JEE exam. A candidate studying in 12^th standard or has completed '10+2' is eligible to appear for the JEE exam. It is necessary to write and clear two exams for a candidate to get admission to an IIT. The candidate must secure a good rank in JEE by taking both JEE-Mains and JEE-Advance. The exam syllabus is nearly similar. However, the difficulty level differs significantly. Another factor that differentiates JEE-Advanced from the Mains exam is the type of questions. Multiple correct answer type questions, integer type questions, and Multiple choice questions with a single correct type are asked in JEE-Advanced. JEE-Mains involves only a single correct answer type question in the whole paper. Moreover, a candidate must qualify JEE-Mains to become eligible for the JEE-Advanced paper. Admission to IIT is provided to the students on the basis of their JEE rank.

GATE

GATE is popularly known as the Master's program in engineering. It is well known in India for the Master's programs in Engineering. Students studying in the final or pre-final years of engineering are eligible to appear for the GATE exam. The syllabus of GATE comprises the portion covered in the four years of the engineering degree in a specific branch. It is necessary to have completed the Undergraduate degree in Engineering, and the candidate must also qualify GATE with a good rank to get admission in prestigious IITs. GATE opens many other opportunities for the candidates, such as PSUS (Public Sector Undertakings), etc.

It is also necessary to secure a good rank and score in GATE for financial aid while pursuing postgraduate programs. It includes Government scholarships and assistantships. Some colleges and universities in India and abroad also use the GATE score for admission to the Master's Program in Engineering. The GATE score remains valid for three years after the date of the announcement of the exam for that year.

Courses Offered in IITs

Undergraduate Program

Students who wish to do an undergraduate program from IITs must take the Joint Entrance Exam and secure a good rank. Completing graduation from prestigious IITs is the dream of every high school student aspiring to become an engineer. Undergraduate degrees from IITs hold importance in India and abroad. The undergraduate courses offered at IITs are:

B.Tech:
B.Tech (or Bachelor of Technology) is a 4-year degree program, which offers the degree of undergraduate in a discipline after the student completes study in that discipline for four years. The entrance exam conducted by IITs is JEE Mains and JEE Advance. Candidates must obtain the desired rank to acquire a seat in the discipline of their choice in the IITs. The Joint Admission Commission decides the admission of candidates in IITs.
B.Tech & M.Tech (Dual Degree Program):
B.Tech & M.Tech dual degree program is of 5-year duration, and students are eligible to earn a master's degree along with the undergraduate degree after the duration of five years. Students who wish to obtain a dual degree of B.Tech and M.Tech from IITs must take the JEE Mains and JEE Advanced exams at any center across India.
B.S. and M.S. (Dual Degree Program):
Many IITs offer B.S. and M.S. dual degree programs, but the field differs from institute to institute. Hence, the students must research the B.S. and M.S. dual degree programs in the field they wish to study.

Postgraduate Program

Students who wish to do a postgraduate program must take the GATE exam in their choice and secure a good rank. Completing postgraduation from prestigious IITs is the dream of every graduate degree holder who aspires to specialize in their field and pursue a master's degree. A postgraduate degree from an IIT holds importance in India and abroad. The postgraduate courses offered at IITs are:

M.Tech:
M.Tech or Masters of technology is offered as a 2-year course in IITs. There are numerous courses for the students, and these courses differ from institute to institute and are offered by different departments of the college. The four-semester M.Tech program gives the students several opportunities, including choosing an elective subject for which a faculty advisor is also provided to the students.
Additionally, the course consists of several core subjects and projects. Students may opt to complete their projects in industries or organizations. The entrance exam for admission to this program is GATE.
MBA:
MBA is a program offered by IITs for management-related studies. It is a two-year program designed to train future managers effectively. The highlight of the program is internships, hands-on training, project work, case studies, and classroom teaching. These make the managers capable of solving management problems in industries.
Other Postgraduate Programs
In addition to the postgraduate programs mentioned above, many IITs often provide courses such as M.A., which is 5-year duration; MSc of 2 years duration. It is required to clear the JAM examination to be eligible for admission to these programs at IITs, and the specializations differ from institute to institute. Hence, a student must carefully go through the website of IITs and the GATE / JAM website.

Indian Institute of Technology

We have learned the importance of the Indian Institute of Technology and the courses offered. Now, we will go through a list of IITs that are most popular in India.

Following is the list of the most popular Indian Institute of Technology:

IIT Bombay
IIT Bombay, popularly known as the IITB, is the second IIT established in India, known as the "Institute of National Importance". It has contributed highly to technical education in India and has gained importance internationally.
IIT Madras
IIT Madras came into existence through the Indo-German Agreement; this was not until 1959. IIT Madras is popular for producing students with excellent technical skills and knowledge. It has been ranked 1^st in the engineering and overall category in the NIRF ranking 2021. It has a high NIRF ranking in other domains such as management, research, and entrepreneurship.
IIT Delhi
IIT Delhi is known as the "Institute of National Importance". IIT Delhi ranks high in NIRF Ranking 2021 in category engineering, overall, entrepreneurship, and research. It secured overall 3^rd rank in NIRF ranking 2020.
IIT Kharagpur
IIT Delhi is known as the "Institute of National Importance". IIT Delhi ranks high in NIRF Ranking 2021 in category engineering, overall, entrepreneurship, and research. It secured overall 3rd rank in NIRF ranking 2020.
IIT Roorkee
IIT Roorkee is known for contributing to technical education in India. Established in 1847, it has imparted technical education to students and has gained importance worldwide. It has been ranked high in the architecture category and research category. IIT Roorkee offers a bachelor's and Master's in engineering, sciences, and architecture. A degree from IIT Roorkee holds great importance in India and abroad.
IIT Kanpur
Established in 1959 and set by the Government of India, IIT Kanpur is a pioneer in technical education in India. It is well known for its research and technological transformations, and IIT Kanpur is a popular choice for Indian and international students. IIT Kanpur has high ratings in overall, engineering, management, and research categories.
IIT BHU
IIT BHU or Banaras Hindu University is popular among India's top institutes for technical education. Located in Varanasi, IIT Banaras Hindu University has different departments. It offers bachelors and masters in engineering, technology, and science.