Institute of National Importance: Meaning, Benefits, and the List of INIs in India

The Indian government confers the status of Institute of National Importance (INI) to premier educational institutions in the country. This status often places these institutions in the limelight, making it crucial for UPSC aspirants and other government exam candidates to understand what INIs are and the benefits they receive from this recognition. 

In this article, we will delve into the concept of Institutes of National Importance and provide an up-to-date list for the IAS Exam.

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Institute of National Importance Meaning

The title of ‘Institute of National Importance’ is granted by the Central Government to premier higher educational institutions in India through a specific act of Parliament. As per the Ministry of Education, an INI is an institution that “plays a crucial role in developing highly skilled personnel within a specified region of the country/state”. This definition originated from the now-repealed Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur) Act, 1956 and the Indian Institutes of Technology Act, 1961.

INIs enjoy special funding and recognition from the Government of India. Furthermore, according to Section 22 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, these institutes established by an Act of Parliament are granted ‘Degree Granting Status’. However, the specific criteria for awarding the status of ‘institute of national importance’ and the benefits institutions receive upon achieving this status are not explicitly documented.

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List of Institutes of National Importance

Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)

• IIT Bombay
• IIT Delhi
• IIT Madras
• IIT Kanpur
• IIT Kharagpur
• IIT Roorkee
• IIT Guwahati
• IIT Hyderabad
• IIT Gandhinagar
• IIT Bhubaneswar
• IIT Indore
• IIT Patna
• IIT Ropar
• IIT Jodhpur
• IIT Varanasi (BHU)
• IIT Dhanbad

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)

• IIM Ahmedabad
• IIM Bangalore
• IIM Calcutta
• IIM Lucknow
• IIM Indore
• IIM Kozhikode
• IIM Shillong
• IIM Ranchi
• IIM Rohtak
• IIM Tiruchirappalli
• IIM Udaipur
• IIM Raipur
• IIM Kashipur
• IIM Nagpur
• IIM Visakhapatnam
• IIM Bodh Gaya
• IIM Amritsar
• IIM Sirmaur
• IIM Sambalpur
• IIM Jammu

National Institutes of Technology (NITs)

• NIT Warangal
• NIT Tiruchirappalli
• NIT Surathkal
• NIT Calicut
• NIT Rourkela
• NIT Kurukshetra
• NIT Durgapur
• NIT Silchar
• NIT Jaipur
• NIT Hamirpur
• NIT Allahabad (MNNIT)
• NIT Jamshedpur
• NIT Nagpur
• NIT Srinagar
• NIT Surat
• NIT Patna
• NIT Raipur
• NIT Agartala
• NIT Arunachal Pradesh
• NIT Delhi
• NIT Goa
• NIT Manipur
• NIT Meghalaya
• NIT Mizoram
• NIT Nagaland
• NIT Puducherry
• NIT Sikkim
• NIT Uttarakhand
• NIT Andhra Pradesh
• NIT Goa
• NIT Manipur
• NIT Meghalaya
• NIT Mizoram
• NIT Nagaland
• NIT Puducherry
• NIT Sikkim
• NIT Uttarakhand
• NIT Andhra Pradesh
• NIT Goa
• NIT Manipur
• NIT Meghalaya
• NIT Mizoram
• NIT Nagaland
• NIT Puducherry
• NIT Sikkim
• NIT Uttarakhand
• NIT Andhra Pradesh
• NIT Goa
• NIT Manipur
• NIT Meghalaya
• NIT Mizoram
• NIT Nagaland
• NIT Puducherry
• NIT Sikkim
• NIT Uttarakhand
• NIT Andhra Pradesh

Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)

• IIIT Allahabad
• IIIT Gwalior
• IIIT Jabalpur
• IIIT Kancheepuram
• IIIT Kurnool
• IIIT Lucknow
• IIIT Pune
• IIIT Sri City
• IIIT Una
• IIIT Kota
• IIIT Vadodara
• IIIT Guwahati
• IIIT Dharwad
• IIIT Nagpur
• IIIT Ranchi
• IIIT Surat

All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)

• AIIMS New Delhi
• AIIMS Bhopal
• AIIMS Bhubaneswar
• AIIMS Jodhpur
• AIIMS Patna
• AIIMS Raipur
• AIIMS Rishikesh

Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs)

• IISER Kolkata
• IISER Pune
• IISER Mohali
• IISER Bhopal
• IISER Thiruvananthapuram
• IISER Tirupati
• IISER Berhampur

Indian Institutes of Technology (Indian School of Mines) (ISM)

• IIT (ISM) Dhanbad

National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs)

• NIPER Mohali
• NIPER Ahmedabad
• NIPER Hyderabad
• NIPER Hajipur
• NIPER Guwahati
• NIPER Kolkata
• NIPER RaeBareli

Indian Maritime University (IMU)

• Kolkata
• Mumbai
• Chennai
• Visakhapatnam
• Kochi
• Navi Mumbai

National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM)

• Sonipat

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Benefits of Being an Institute of National Importance

• INIs are prestigious institutions recognized by the Indian government for their excellence and contribution to higher education and research.
• INIs enjoy a high degree of autonomy in decision-making, curriculum design, faculty recruitment, and other administrative matters.
• INIs receive special funding and grants from the government. This helps them in infrastructure development, research projects, and academic initiatives.
• INIs have better opportunities for international collaborations and partnerships with renowned universities and research institutions worldwide.
• INIs are known for their focus on research and innovation. They provide a conducive environment for students and faculty to excel in their respective fields.

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What are Institutions of Eminence (IoEs)?

Institutions of Eminence (IoEs) are a select group of higher education institutions in India. These are identified by the government for their potential to become world-class institutions. These institutions receive special funding and autonomy to achieve global excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.

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We hope all your doubts regarding this topic have been addressed after going through this article. Ace your UPSC preparation with the Testbook App!