IIT

What are IITs?

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are a group of autonomous public technical universities located across India. Established under the Institutes of Technology Act of 1961, IITs are institutions of national importance and are among the most prestigious engineering and technology universities in the world. There are currently 23 IITs in India, with the oldest being IIT Kharagpur (1951) and newer ones added as part of the government's expansion plan.

Admission to undergraduate B.Tech programs at IITs is through JEE Advanced, which is the second stage of the Joint Entrance Examination — considered one of the most competitive undergraduate entrance exams in the world. Postgraduate admission is through GATE (M.Tech/PhD) and other specialised tests (M.Sc, MBA via CAT/JMET/IIT-specific tests).

IITs at a Glance

List of IITs in India

• IIT Kharagpur (1951) — oldest IIT
• IIT Bombay (1958), IIT Madras (1959), IIT Kanpur (1959), IIT Delhi (1961), IIT Roorkee (1847, IIT status 2001), IIT Guwahati (1994)
• New IITs (2008 onwards): IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Patna, IIT Ropar, IIT Mandi, IIT Indore, IIT Varanasi (BHU), IIT Tirupati, IIT Palakkad, IIT Jammu, IIT Dharwad, IIT Bhilai, IIT Goa, IIT Dharwad (Surat), IIT (ISM) Dhanbad

JEE Advanced — Key Facts

• Only students who qualify JEE Main (top ~2.5 lakh rank-holders) are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced
• Maximum 2 attempts in consecutive years (the year of Class 12 and the year after)
• Exam consists of 2 papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2), each 3 hours long
• Covers Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics; multiple question types including MCQs, multi-select, and integer-type
• Marks and ranking determine B.Tech seat allocation in IITs via the JoSAA counselling process
• General category opening ranks for top IITs and popular branches (Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical) are typically below 1,000; newer IITs and other branches have higher rank cutoffs

Admission Through GATE (M.Tech/PhD)

• GATE score is used for M.Tech and PhD admissions at all IITs
• Each IIT sets its own GATE cut-off for specific programs; IIT-specific COAP portal manages M.Tech seat allocation
• GATE-qualified M.Tech students are eligible for Ministry of Education scholarship (MHRD stipend: currently around Rs. 12,400 per month)
• PhD admissions are ongoing through GATE score, department-specific written tests, and interviews

Programs Offered at IITs

• B.Tech (4 years): Flagship undergraduate engineering program in Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Aerospace, and many other disciplines
• B.S. / Dual Degree (5 years): Integrated Bachelor's and Master's programs in science and engineering disciplines
• M.Tech (2 years): Postgraduate engineering; GATE-based admission
• M.Sc (2 years): Postgraduate science; JAM-based admission
• MBA (2 years): Available at IIT Delhi (DMS), IIT Bombay (SJMSOM), IIT Kharagpur (VGSoM), and others — CAT-based
• PhD: Research programs; GATE / CSIR NET / UGC NET or institute-specific tests

Resources for IIT Aspirants on AglaSem

• JEE Advanced Syllabus: Official subject-wise syllabus for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics
• Previous Year Question Papers: JEE Advanced papers from multiple years with solutions
• Free Mock Tests: Chapter-wise and full-length mock tests for JEE Main and JEE Advanced preparation
• JEE Main Cut-off: Year-wise JEE Main cut-off for JEE Advanced qualification
• JoSAA Counselling Info: Opening and closing ranks for IIT branches in previous years

Frequently Asked Questions about IITs

How many attempts are allowed for JEE Advanced?

A candidate can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of 2 times in two consecutive years. This means you can appear in the year you pass Class 12 and once more the following year. There is no relaxation on this limit for any category.

What is the difference between old IITs and new IITs?

The older IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Guwahati) have been established longer, have stronger research infrastructure, alumni networks, and global rankings. The newer IITs are still developing their faculty, labs, and campus facilities, but all IITs carry the same statutory status and degree value.

Can I get into an IIT through a route other than JEE Advanced?

For B.Tech, JEE Advanced is the only route. For M.Tech, GATE score is the primary route. For M.Sc, JAM (Joint Admission Test for Masters) is the route. PhD candidates may enter through GATE, CSIR NET, or institute-specific written tests and interviews.

Do IITs have reservations?

Yes. IITs follow the central government reservation policy: OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) — 27%, SC — 15%, ST — 7.5%, and EWS (Economically Weaker Section) — 10%. PwBD horizontal reservation of 5% also applies.