There is hardly any doubt in the fact that the IITs represent the very best of technical education in the country. Though there were only a handful of them a few years back, governments in the past few years have tried to open new IITs in different parts of the country to provide an opportunity to an increasing number of engineering aspirants each year.
Now to add to the already prestigious list, the government has given its final nod to the newest IIT in the country "“ IIT Jammu. The new institute will commence its operations from 2016-17 session and would begin functions from a temporary campus. The new IIT would work under the guidance of IIT Delhi.
The first session of the IIT would see only 90 students getting enrolled "“ 30 students each in Electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science engineering. A MoU to this effect was finalized between the central HRD ministry and the Government of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. An official statement released by the IIT Delhi can be read as follows - "This has paved the way for transfer of land of the actual site measuring 159 hectare at village Jagti, Tehsil Nagrota at Jammu for setting up IIT Jammu. The construction of Transit Campus spread over 25 acres within the actual site will be starting shortly,"
The transit campus for the institute which would be ready by the time of 2017-18 session is expected to be fit enough for 600 students. Let's hope this brings the required changes to the fortunes of the state.