History of IIT(BHU)
The Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi has its roots in the visionary leadership of Bharat Ratna Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Ji, who founded Banaras Hindu University (BHU), India's first comprehensive residential university. BHU ventured into engineering education with the establishment of three institutions:
Banaras Engineering College (BENCO) in 1919, the College of Mining and Metallurgy (MINMET) in 1923, and the College of Technology (TECHNO) in 1932, all integral parts of BHU.
Under Pandit Malaviya Ji's guidance, BHU introduced pioneering undergraduate engineering programs in fields such as Electrical, Mechanical, Metallurgy, Mining, Ceramics, and Pharmaceutics. BHU also became the first Institution in Asia to offer degree courses in Pharmaceutics. Post-independence, BHU expanded its engineering offerings to include postgraduate and doctoral research programs, fostering advanced learning and innovation.
In 1968, the three engineering colleges merged to form the Institute of Technology (IT-BHU), overcoming challenges like limited funding and autonomy to rank among India's top engineering institutions consistently.
On June 29, 2012, the Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act 2012
elevated IT-BHU to Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) status, becoming lIT (BHU), Varanasi.
Since then, the Institute has grown in academics, research, and development. Today, IIT (BHU), Varanasi symbolizes excellence in engineering and technology education, advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and producing graduates who excel both nationally and internationally.
Academics AT IIT(BHU), Varanasi
The curriculum at IIT (BHU), Varanasi alongside emphasizing capacity, care, and character, also aims to weave research and innovation into the course structure
through a project-based learning approach. The Institute offers Undergraduate programs in Engineering, including a four-year Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.), a five-
year Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch), and PG programs in Engineering, Science, and Humanities and Social Sciences. Admission to all the undergraduate programs is
through the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology.
IIT (BHU), Varanasi has 18 academic units, including 11 Engineering Departments, 3 Science Departments, 3 Interdisciplinary Schools, and 1 Humanities & Social Sciences
Department.
Engineering Departments
Architecture, Planning and Design, Ceramic Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology.
Science Departments
Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences and Physics.
Interdisciplinary Schools
Biochemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science and Technology. Humanities & Social Sciences Humanistic Studies.
| Ranking Body | Positions |
|---|---|
| NIRF Engineering 2024 (India) | 10th |
|
QS World University Rankings 2025 |
531st globally, 12th Indian University, 8th IIT |
Notable Rankings of the Institute
Research & Development
The total amount of the funds, the Institute receives through sponsored Project/Scheme/ Consultancy Projects are increasing every year.
As on 29 August 2024, the Institute has 474 running sponsored projects with financial outlay of 229.37 crores, of these, 98 were received in 2024. The number of new projects in 2021, 2022 and 2023 were 62, 115, and 94 respectively. The Institute is also actively participating in several national research initiatives. These Institute projects include:
- DRDO Industry Academia- Centre of Excellence
- BIS Standardization Chair Professorship Software Innovation Lab and Chair Professor (Jay Chaudhary)
- School of Decision Science and Engineering (Shri N C Jain)
- ISRO Regional Academic Centre for Space
- RKVY-RAFTAAR Agri-Business Incubator
- Collaborative Research Centre of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission
- DST foundered Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) on Interdisciplinary Data Analytics and Predictive Technology (IDAPT)
- IIT(BHU) Union Bank of India incubation center and several others more.
- There are 45 major Institute projects sanctioned or started. Total financial outlay for such ongoing projects/schemes is around Rs. 435 Crores.
Training & Placement
Training and Placement Office, IIT (BHU), Varanasi, facilitates the placement process of students passing out from the Institute, besides collaborating with leading
organizations and institutes to set up internship and training programs for students. The cell is a dedicated resource for students and alumni, facilitating career opportunities and industry connections. The cell collaborates with leading organizations across diverse sectors, including core engineering, IT, consulting,
finance, and management.
With a focus on skill development, industry exposure, and career guidance, the Training and Placement Cell plays a crucial role in shaping the successful careers of IIT(BHU) graduates. Our students have received 1000+ Full-time offers from 300+ companies in the current placement season. Further, students of IIT (BHU) have
secured around 300 pre-placement offers and 400+ internship offers in 2024.
Main Workshop
The Main Workshop at IIT (BHU), Varanasi is focused on nurturing practical skills in young engineering students. Additionally, its facilities have been used to manufacture various construction items, including cast iron grills, benches, and engineering equipment. Covering an area of approximately 445 square meters, it extends technical support for maintenance and fabrication to nearby industries.
- CNC Machine Shop
- Sheet Metal Shop
- Black Smithy Shop
- Foundry Shop
- Carpentry Shop
- Electroplating Shop
Central Instrument Facility
One of the specialized core facilities available at the Institute is the Central Instrument Facility (CIF), which provides state-of-the-art research infrastructure and quality
education services that support advanced instrumentation. The CIF offers various innovative instruments to assist faculty, student research, and industrial R&D.
Super Computing Centre
The Super Computing Centre was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 19 February 2019, under the National Super Computer Mission. This is the first super computer developed and installed under this mission (launched in 2015 as part of Make in India initiative) in India by MeitY. From various HPC applications to diverse research activities in bio-informatics, astrophysics, computational chemistry and more, the PARAM SHIVAY super computer serves as a pivotal facility.
Precision Engineering Lab
The Precision Engineering Hub (PEH) at IIT (BHU), Varanasi operates as a central facility that remains active around the clock, offering conceptual design and product realization services. These services are available to faculty members and industrial partners aiming to develop innovative products. PEH's primary objective is in harmony with national goals, supporting initiatives such as ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat.’ Within
PEH, design and manufacturing processes are integrated into a digital environment through dedicated spaces like Makerspace, Designer Space, Tool Room, and Product Design Areas. PEH is well equipped with cutting-edge CAD and CAM tools, alongside laser cutting machines, CNC machinery, Ultimaker S5 Pro 3D printers, and more.
Healthcare
The Institute offers an extensive student health welfare scheme in collaboration with the Banaras Hindu University. Students can utilize healthcare services at Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, specializing in postgraduate medical care. Furthermore, routine outpatient clinical services are conveniently available at the University Students Health Care Complex, located centrally within the BHU campus. To access these services, students must present their Health Diary, which the Health Care Complex provides. Additionally, a pharmacy is established within the IIT premises to meet basic medicinal needs.
Library And E-Resources Facilities
IIT (BHU), Varanasi has a well-equipped library system comprising Shreenivas Deshpande Library as the primary library and five independent departmental libraries. It houses a vast collection of over 1.5 Lakh resources, including books, journals, theses, Standards, and reports. It is equipped with three air-conditioned
reading halls. Besides this, it also offers various facilities such as Wi-Fi, scanning, printing, and circulation of books for all students registered with the Institute.
The library offers access to 15,000+ e-journals, 25,000 standards, 3,500+ electronic books, and various databases. It provides a rich collection of periodicals dating back to 1918, along with codes and standards. An online repository contains theses, publications, event videos and transcripts. Grammarly Premium, Press
reader, endnote desktop version Turnitin, and anti-plagiarism tools with Al detector facilities are available. Remote access to all e-resources is provided.
Hostel Facilities
IIT (BHU), Varanasi offers students and research scholars on-campus residential facilities. During their entire tenure at the Institution, students are required to reside in one of the available hostel facilities on campus. These hostels comprise twelve for male students and four for female students. Each hostel is well-equipped with community areas and indoor recreational facilities such as table tennis, badminton, and volleyball. The hostel administration at the Institute places utmost importance on ensuring the safety, security, health, and comfort of its residents while also fostering the development of positive habits.
Student Life
IIT (BHU), Varanasi fosters a dynamic campus environment that facilitates the holistic development of its students, promoting meaningful interactions among themselves, as well as with the broader university community and the external world. The epicenter for all extracurricular pursuits within the Institute is the lIT (BHU), Varanasi Gymkhana, situated within the Kings' Pavilion.
Gymkhana
- Games and Sports Council
- Cultural Council
- Science And Technology Council
- Social Service Council
- Film And Media Council
College Festivals
IIT (BHU), Varanasi hosts a plethora of activities and events throughout the year in various areas of science and technology, sports and games, and cultural activities. Apart from the three significant fests organized every calendar year, many departments organize their annual fests with great enthusiasm and participation.
Alumni Connect
In September 2024, a team from IIT (BHU), Varanasi, led by Hon’ble Director Prof. Amit Patra and comprising two Deans, Prof. Rajnesh Tyagi, Dean (Faculty Affairs), and Prof. Hiralal Pramanik, Dean (Resource and Alumni) visited the United States of America, for various alumni meets. In these meetups, varied topics were discussed, from creating partnerships and collaborations with industry and guiding multiple projects on campus to developing infrastructural projects on campus and organizing more such visits in the future. This trip to USA signified the importance of the global alumni community of IIT (BHU), Varanasi.
Notably, the IIT (BHU) Foundation, a non-profit organization, was formed by the alumni to enable the Institute's transformation. It will monitor the use of funds for various projects under three pillars of focus - Campus Infrastructure, Research Sponsorship & Faculty Support, Scholarships & Financial Aid for students.
The Institute is grateful to its alumni for their contributions to its development in a variety of areas. Major infrastructural projects funded by the alumni include the School of Decision Sciences and Engineering, Mechatronics and Automation Lab, and the Student Activity Center. Multiple projects are under development as well.
Extracted from the report presented at the PIWOT
(Pan IIT World of Technology) at Mumbai in January 2025.
Courtesy: Dean(Resource And Alumni Affairs), IIT (BHU), Varanasi