PM Modi virtually lays foundation stone for IIT Jammu’s Phase-B infrastructure

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone for phase-B infrastructure works of IIT Jammu through virtual mode from Odisha, while Union Minister of State (independent charge) Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, physically participated in the ceremony at the institute campus.

The development marked a major step in expanding the capacity of one of India’s third-generation IITs, established in 2016.

Speaking on the occasion, 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 made a visible mark on the academic scene.

The minister said that IIT Jammu emerged as a priority institution for the government since 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, was already completed, enabling the institute to grow rapidly in its formative years.

The phase-B expansion, sanctioned at a cost of Rs 1398 crore, will include new academic and residential infrastructure, laboratories, and a dedicated Research Park.

Singh underlined that this research park would be the first of its kind in North India, modelled on IIT Madras, and would 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 enabled collaborative projects and interdisciplinary research.

Singh said that the union cabinet approved capacity expansion across five new IITs – Tirupati, Bhilai, Dharwad, Jammu, and Palakkad – with an overall outlay of Rs 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 the 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, the Union Minister praised the dedication of Director Prof Manoj Singh Gaur and his team, noting that under their stewardship, the institute had overcome early hurdles and earned national recognition within a short span of time.

Singh thanked the Prime Minister for his continued focus on Jammu and Kashmir’s development, stating that IIT Jammu’s expansion reflected India’s broader vision of becoming a global centre for research, education, and innovation.