NITs to revamp curriculum, roll out industry-oriented PG, PhD reforms: Dharmendra Pradhan

The National Institutes of Technology (NITs) will realign courses to emerging technologies and introduce industry-centric Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes, union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on January 13, 2026. He also said the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) will receive campus-specific research priorities and strengthened startup ecosystems.

The announcements were made during the 13th meeting of the Council of the National Institutes of Technology, Science and Engineering Research (NITSER) and the 3rd Standing Committee of the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs).

Chairing the meeting, Pradhan said, “Our curriculum must be aligned to national priorities. Our PhD programmes must be industry-centric.” He proposed creating an industry-led curriculum committee to develop programmes based on emerging job roles and 21st-century requirements.

The council discussed aligning curricula, academic programmes, assessments, and research with technologies such as Industry 4.0, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, semiconductors, and manufacturing.

NITs to launch PG, MTech

Pradhan said NITs will launch specialised postgraduate (PG) and Master of Technology (MTech) programmes, while the PhD framework will focus on problem-solving, product-based, and industry-oriented research. Research parks and incubation centres will expand at NITs to support startups, and annual peer reviews will be made public for institutional self-assessment.

Innovation initiatives include establishing incubation centres in 13 NITs that do not currently have them and creating research parks in at least 10 NITs. A pitching conclave for start-ups incubated in NITs is scheduled for July 2026, involving investors and industry stakeholders.

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IISER campuses to focus on specializations

Pradhan further said that, on IISERs, each of the seven campuses will focus on specific specializations: Pune on advanced computing and quantum technologies, Kolkata on biotechnology, Mohali on healthcare and medical technologies, Bhopal on advanced materials and manufacturing, Thiruvananthapuram on energy, sustainability, and climate, Tirupati on agriculture and food technology, and Berhampur on rare earth and critical minerals. Section 8 companies will be set up at each IISER to promote startup ecosystems and Indian language-based education.

According to the official press release, the council agreed to complete external peer reviews within one year and emphasised active participation in the National Accreditation Framework (NAAC). The use of ‘Bharatiya Bhashas’ and AI-based multilingual learning was highlighted to support inclusivity for learners from diverse linguistic backgrounds.