September 27, Jammu: Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh has lauded the expansion of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu, describing it as a “matter of pride” for the Union Territory and the nation. His statement followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual foundation stone-laying ceremony for the expansion of eight IITs, a move expected to add 10,000 new student seats and establish state-of-the-art research parks across India.
Jitendra Singh on IIT Jammu’s Growth
Speaking to the media, Singh said, “It is a matter of pride that a premier institute like IIT is being developed in Jammu at such a fast pace. Even before 2014, the people of Jammu had been demanding a high-standard institute. Today, IIT Jammu has grown to become one of the top 60 engineering institutions in the country.”
He further announced that a dedicated research park will be developed at IIT Jammu—an initiative modeled on IIT Madras. “This will be the first such research park in North India, opening new opportunities for innovation and industry collaboration,” Singh added.
₹11,000 Crore National Expansion Plan
As part of the expansion drive, PM Modi laid the foundation stones for the growth of IITs in Tirupati, Palakkad, Bhilai, Jammu, Dharwad, Jodhpur, Patna, and Indore. The government has committed ₹11,000 crore towards this initiative, which will boost higher education infrastructure, innovation capacity, and advanced research across the country.
According to officials, the expansion will not only increase student intake capacity but also create a network of eight research parks, designed to strengthen India’s research and development ecosystem and provide cutting-edge facilities for students and startups.
Part of Larger Development Push
Alongside the IIT initiative, the Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth over ₹50,000 crore in Jharsuguda, Odisha. These projects cover multiple sectors including telecommunications, railways, healthcare, skill development, and rural housing.
A major highlight is the commissioning of over 97,500 4G mobile towers built at a cost of around ₹37,000 crore, significantly improving telecom connectivity in remote areas.
Transforming Higher Education and Innovation
The IIT expansion plan is being positioned as a transformative step for India’s education and innovation ecosystem. By combining global-standard research parks, enhanced student capacity, and regional access to premier institutes, the government aims to strengthen India’s status as a hub for science, technology, and R&D in the coming decade.