Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi or IITD) is one of India's most prestigious and globally recognised technical universities, established in 1961 as a College of Engineering in New Delhi. Formally inaugurated in August 1961 by Humayun Kabir, Minister of Scientific Research & Cultural Affairs, it was declared an Institution of National Importance under the Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 1963, and granted university status with the power to conduct its own examinations and award degrees. In 2018, IIT Delhi became the first IIT to receive the Government of India's coveted Institute of Eminence designation — a recognition reserved for India's top 10 higher education institutions. As per NIRF 2025, IIT Delhi holds the 2nd rank in Engineering, 4th Overall, 3rd in Research Institutions, 4th in Management, and 8th in SDG. Internationally, the QS World University Rankings 2026 places IIT Delhi at 123rd globally — a rise of more than 100 places in just 10 years. In QS Subject Rankings 2026, IITD stands 36th in Engineering & Technology, 45th in Computer Science, 71st in Business & Economics, and 91st in Natural Sciences. It is ranked 26th globally in Engineering & Technology by QS Subject Rankings 2025, firmly placing it among the world's elite engineering institutions. Situated on a picturesque 320-acre campus at Hauz Khas in South Delhi — bounded by JNU on the west, NCERT on the south, and well-connected by the Delhi Metro — IIT Delhi has grown into a multi-disciplinary powerhouse. The campus is home to 19 departments and 8+ research centres, offering programmes from undergraduate to doctoral level across Engineering, Sciences, Management, Design, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Interdisciplinary areas. IIT Delhi's history is inseparable from India's post-independence technological ambitions. Since its founding, it has produced leaders across every sector: Kiran Bedi (first female IPS officer), Chetan Bhagat (bestselling author), Raghuram Rajan (former RBI Governor), Binny Bansal (Co-founder of Flipkart), and Padmasree Warrior (former CTO of Cisco) are among its most distinguished alumni. Notably, IIT Delhi holds the record for producing the highest number of unicorn startup founders in India — a testament to its extraordinary entrepreneurial culture. Academically, IIT Delhi underwent a landmark curriculum revision for the 2025–26 academic year, emphasising flexibility, hands-on learning, project-based activity, and interdisciplinary minor areas in computer science, entrepreneurship, and management. Two new programmes were introduced: B.Tech in Design and BS in Chemistry. A student who petitions at the end of Year 3 can obtain an M.Tech/MS(R) degree in any offered programme in just one additional year, making the 4+1 pathway exceptionally efficient. Five-year Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) programmes also allow B.Tech and M.Tech degrees to be earned simultaneously. The B.Tech programme spans 15+ specialisations including Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mathematics & Computing, Engineering Physics, Textile Technology, Applied Mechanics, Production & Industrial Engineering, and the newly launched B.Tech in Design. IIT Delhi also operates the B.Des (Bachelor of Design) programme via UCEED. At the postgraduate level, M.Tech (20+ specialisations), M.Sc, MA, MBA, M.Des, MS(R), and PhD are offered. Research at IIT Delhi is world-class in scope and impact. The Centre for Automotive Research & Tribology (CART), Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Bharti School of Telecom, Amar Nath & Shashi Khosla School of Information Technology, and the Centre for Biomedical Engineering are among its major research hubs. The International campus at Abu Dhabi (launched January 2024) offers B.Tech in CSE, Energy Engineering, and Chemical Engineering — a pioneering step for any Indian IIT onto the global stage. A Sonipat satellite campus focuses on executive education and R&D; and a Jhajjar campus is dedicated to biomedical research in partnership with AIIMS Delhi. Placements at IIT Delhi are managed by the Office of Career Services (OCS). In the 2025–26 season, 1,275 offers were made to 1,140+ students by December 2025, including 300+ PPOs (a 33% increase over the previous year) and 35+ international offers from Japan, Singapore, Netherlands, UAE, and the UK. The 2024–25 season saw 1,200 offers to 1,150 students with 50+ international offers. Sector distribution is led by Core Technical (36.6%), IT (20.7%), and Analytics (10.9%). The highest domestic package reaches INR 1 Crore per annum, with international packages exceeding INR 2 Crore. Top recruiters include Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, BCG, Bain & Co., Apple, DE Shaw, Quadeye, Graviton Research, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Oracle, JP Morgan, American Express, and many more. Student life on campus is vibrant and governed by a robust student council structure. The Board for Sports Activities manages IIT Delhi's participation in the Inter-IIT Sports Meet and the annual Sportech festival. The Board for Recreation and Cultural Activities oversees Rendezvous, IIT Delhi's legendary 4-day annual cultural festival started in 1976. Technical clubs, the Automobile Club (Formula SAE, Mini Baja), and Co-curricular and Academic Interaction Council (CAIC) ensure holistic development. The Mittal Sports Complex offers a swimming pool, racquet sports courts, football stadium, cricket ground, hockey field, basketball courts, and a hobbies workshop. Campus also includes a hospital, shopping centre, bank, post office, community centre, and stadium — all within the 320-acre grounds.