New Delhi : IIT Delhi has announced the launch of a landmark national academic and research collaboration network through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 18 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) across the country. The initiative aims to create a robust ecosystem for academic excellence, innovation, research collaboration, and talent development in alignment with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The IIT Delhi-NIT collaboration network was launched at an event held at IIT Delhi on June 04, 2026, in the presence of Ms. Saumya Gupta, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, Government of India (joined virtually); NIT Directors; Director of IIT Delhi, Prof. Rangan Banerjee; and several other senior functionaries of the Institute.
The 18 partner institutions include NIT Sikkim, NIT Meghalaya, NIT Silchar, NIT Jamshedpur, NIT Rourkela, NIT Raipur, VNIT Nagpur, SVNIT Surat, MNIT Jaipur, MANIT Bhopal, MNNIT Allahabad, NIT Kurukshetra, NIT Srinagar, NIT Tiruchirappalli, NIT Calicut, NIT Surathkal, NIT Warangal, and NIT Jalandhar.
The initiative represents one of the largest structured academic partnership frameworks among India’s leading technical institutions and seeks to establish a nationwide network that leverages the collective strengths of IIT Delhi and the NIT system to advance education, research, innovation, and national development.
Through this collaboration, students and faculty members of participating institutions will benefit from expanded opportunities for academic exchange, joint research, shared access to research infrastructure, collaborative supervision of projects and theses, faculty development initiatives, and participation in multidisciplinary innovation activities.
A key feature of the collaboration is the introduction of structured pathways for meritorious NIT students to pursue advanced studies at IIT Delhi. Eligible undergraduate students will be able to spend their final year at IIT Delhi as Special Exchange Students, undertaking advanced coursework, research projects, and academic activities under the guidance of IIT Delhi faculty members. Similarly, postgraduate students from partner NITs will have opportunities for research immersion and academic engagement at IIT Delhi.
The framework also introduces an Early Admission Scheme that enables high-performing students from the participating NITs to be considered for admission to M.Tech., MS (Research), and Ph.D. programmes at IIT Delhi without the requirement of qualifying through GATE or other national-level examinations, subject to prescribed academic and research performance criteria. The scheme is designed to identify and nurture outstanding talent at an early stage and create seamless pathways into advanced research and higher education.
In addition, the collaboration incorporates provisions for credit transfer, credit sharing, and advanced standing, enabling eligible students to complete a portion of their academic requirements at IIT Delhi while earning credits that may be recognized by both institutions. This innovative academic structure can significantly reduce the time required for completion of advanced degrees while maintaining academic rigor and quality.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi, emphasized that the initiative reflects a shift from institution-centric growth towards a collaborative national model of higher education.
“The partnership between IIT Delhi and NITs embodies the spirit of NEP 2020 and contributes to building a more interconnected and globally competitive higher education system. Through this initiative, we are creating a collaborative ecosystem to expand educational and research opportunities for students and faculty across the country,” Prof. Rangan Banerjee said.
To support the collaborative activities under the MoUs, IIT Delhi has launched ALIGN (Academic Linkages for Innovation and National Growth)—a dedicated institutional initiative designed to catalyse academic and research engagement between IIT Delhi and partner institutions.
ALIGN comprises three complementary components:
• Predoctoral Fellowship Scheme, which provides opportunities and financial support to talented undergraduate and postgraduate students aspiring to pursue doctoral studies at IIT Delhi;
• Research Seed Grant Scheme, which supports collaborative research activities, faculty exchanges, student mobility, joint proposal development, and preparation of research publications between IIT Delhi and NIT faculty members; and
• Research Immersion Visit Scheme, through which IIT Delhi faculty delegations will visit partner institutions to identify collaborative opportunities, strengthen academic linkages, and facilitate sharing of expertise and research infrastructure.
Prof. Dhanya C. T., Dean, Academics, IIT Delhi, while highlighting the academic significance of the initiative, said, “The future of higher education lies in collaboration and academic mobility. Through this partnership with 18 NITs, IIT Delhi is creating new pathways for talented students to access advanced coursework, research opportunities, faculty mentorship, and accelerated postgraduate programmes. We believe this initiative will foster greater academic integration among premier institutions and help nurture the next generation of researchers.”
The first phase of the initiative focuses on collaboration with the 18 NITs, with a long-term vision of expanding the network to include other higher education institutions across the country.
