Dr Jitendra Singh lauds Jammu IIT’s remarkable progress within a short span of time
JK News Today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone for Phase-B infrastructure works of IIT Jammu through virtual mode, while Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, physically participated in the ceremony at the institute campus. The development marks a major step in expanding the capacity of one of India’s third-generation IITs, established in 2016.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh lauded Jammu IIT’s remarkable progress within a short span of time and said that among the new IITs started around 2016, IIT Jammu has made a visible mark on the academic scene.
The Minister said, IIT Jammu has emerged as a priority institution for the Government from its inception, conceived to address long-standing aspirations for a premier technical institute in the region. He recalled that Phase-A construction, including academic blocks, lecture theatres, hostels, dining facilities, and utility buildings, has already been completed, enabling the institute to grow rapidly in its formative years.
The Phase-B expansion, sanctioned at a cost of ₹1,398 crore, will include new academic and residential infrastructure, laboratories, and a dedicated Research Park. Dr. Jitendra Singh underlined that this Research Park will be the first of its kind in North India, modelled on IIT Madras, and will strengthen industry-academia linkages, foster startups, and support small and medium enterprises through technology-driven solutions.
Highlighting IIT Jammu’s steady rise, the Minister noted that the institute secured the 56th rank in the 2025 NIRF Engineering rankings, a sign of its progress in less than a decade of establishment. He also pointed to the unique advantage of IIT Jammu’s location, surrounded by institutions such as AIIMS, IIM Jammu, and the Central University of Jammu, which enables collaborative projects and interdisciplinary research.
Dr. Jitendra Singh mentioned that the Union Cabinet has approved capacity expansion across five new IITs — Tirupati, Bhilai, Dharwad, Jammu, and Palakkad — with an overall outlay of ₹11,828 crore. This investment will allow these institutions to collectively increase their student strength to nearly 12,000 in the coming four years, alongside creation of faculty positions and advanced facilities.
Recalling the initial challenges of setting up IIT Jammu, including difficulties in attracting leadership and faculty in its formative years, Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the dedication of Director Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur and his team, noting that under their stewardship the institute has overcome early hurdles and earned national recognition within a short span of time.
Concluding his address, the Minister expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for his continued focus on Jammu and Kashmir’s development, stating that IIT Jammu’s expansion reflects India’s broader vision of becoming a global centre for research, education, and innovation.
