First IIT in India, IIT Kharagpur was established in May 1950 at Hijli in West Bengal, marking the beginning of India’s prestigious IIT system. The institute initially functioned from Esplanade East in Calcutta before shifting to the Hijli campus in September 1950. It was formally inaugurated on August 18, 1951, by then Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The campus has a unique history as it was formerly the Hijli Detention Camp, where freedom fighters were imprisoned during the independence movement. In 1956, Parliament passed the IIT Kharagpur Act, giving the institute the status of an Institute of National Importance. IIT Kharagpur’s success paved the way for IITs in Bombay, Madras, Kanpur and Delhi. In 2026, the institute is marking its 75th anniversary, celebrating its contribution to engineering education, research and innovation.
First IIT in India: IIT Kharagpur’s 75-Year Journey Explained
