At the 56th Council meeting of the IITs held at IIT Delhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called on the institutes to embrace a “quantum jump” toward Atmanirbhar Bharat not just incremental change. He emphasized IITs as central to national transformation, urging them to lead India’s journey to becoming a globally competitive, self-reliant, and prosperous nation.

Pradhan highlighted the institutions’ remarkable impact: over 6,000 startups, 56 unicorns, and nearly 5,000 patents emerging from the IIT ecosystem. He underscored the imperative of translational research, curriculum aligned with critical national technologies, and fostering creators rather than just job-seekers.

The council resolved to introduce regional languages alongside English in instruction, strengthen industry-academia linkages, reform PhD programs, elevate global rankings, and expand mentorship via alumni networks. A task force will soon set actionable milestones along the IITs@2047 roadmap, while the IIT R&D Fair is poised to become a global innovation platform. 

Supported by initiatives like the PM Research Fellowship, Centers of Excellence in AI, and research parks, IITs are being reshaped as engines of inclusive innovation, economic opportunity, and global leadership.