Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 27 virtually laid the foundation stone for the Phase-B infrastructure expansion of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu, signaling a major step in strengthening the capacity of one of India’s third-generation IITs. Established in 2016, IIT Jammu has rapidly emerged as a hub for innovation, technology, and start-ups in the region.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who attended the ceremony on campus, described IIT Jammu as a “priority institution” from its inception, conceived to fulfil the long-standing aspiration for a premier technical institute in Jammu and Kashmir.

Phase-B, sanctioned at a cost of ₹1,398 crore, will feature new academic and residential infrastructure, state-of-the-art laboratories, and a dedicated research park — the first of its kind in North India, modelled on IIT Madras. Singh highlighted that this facility will bolster industry-academia collaboration, nurture start-ups, and support small and medium enterprises through technology-driven solutions.

“The institute has made remarkable progress in under a decade, securing 56th rank in the 2025 NIRF Engineering rankings,” Singh noted. He also emphasized IIT Jammu’s strategic location, surrounded by AIIMS, IIM Jammu, and the Central University of Jammu, which offers unique opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaborative projects.

Phase-A, completed earlier, had already established academic blocks, hostels, dining facilities, and utility buildings, laying a strong foundation for the institute’s rapid growth.

Singh also announced that the Union Cabinet has approved capacity expansion for five new IITs — Tirupati, Bhilai, Dharwad, Jammu, and Palakkad — with a total outlay of ₹11,828 crore. This investment is expected to increase student capacity to nearly 12,000 over the next four years, alongside the creation of new faculty positions and advanced research facilities.

Reflecting on IIT Jammu’s early challenges, including difficulties in attracting leadership and faculty, Singh lauded Director Manoj Singh Gaur and his team for overcoming obstacles and earning national recognition in a short span. He credited the Prime Minister’s vision and focus on Jammu and Kashmir’s development for enabling such transformative progress, noting that the institute’s expansion aligns with India’s broader goal of becoming a global centre for research, education, and innovation.