Top 10 IITs in India 2026: NIRF Ranking, Courses, Seats & Placement

Every year, lakhs of candidates appear in the JEE Advanced exam, aspiring to join one of the Top IIT colleges in India 2026. The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are among the best institutes in the country when it comes to academics, research, innovation, and placements. 

Aspiring students frequently search for which are the Top 10 IIT colleges in India or the Top 5 IIT in India. This blog allows you to know the Top 10 IIT colleges in India along with their rankings, courses, seat matrix, and other relevant details to assist candidates during JoSAA counseling.

Top 10 IIT Colleges in India 2026 Rank Wise

As per the widely popular latest NIRF Ranking 2025, IIT Madras has secured the first place in the list of the Top IIT colleges in India.  NIRF Ranking 2026 for the IIT Colleges in India is yet to be released. Till then, refer to the Top 10 IIT Colleges and popular courses below based on the latest ranking.

NIRF Rank 2025	IIT Name	Popular Branches
1	IIT Madras	Computer Science & Engineering (CSE), Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
2	IIT Delhi	CSE, Mathematics & Computing, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics
3	IIT Bombay	CSE, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
4	IIT Kanpur	CSE, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
5	IIT Kharagpur	CSE, Electronics & Electrical Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering
6	IIT Roorkee	CSE, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
7	IIT Hyderabad	Artificial Intelligence, CSE, Electrical Engineering, Data Science
8	IIT Guwahati	CSE, Electronics & Electrical Engineering, Data Science, Mechanical Engineering
9	IIT (BHU) Varanasi	CSE, Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
10	IIT Indore	CSE, Mathematics & Computing, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Why is the NIRF Ranking Widely Acceptable?

While evaluating the Top 10 IIT colleges in India 2026 Rank wise, we need to rely on a trustworthy ranking system. The ranking of Top IIT colleges in India in accordance with the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) takes place based on a score given out of 1000. This score is further allotted to five main parameters: Teaching, Learning & Resources (30%), Research & Professional Practice (30%), Graduation Outcomes (20%), Outreach & Inclusivity (10%), and Perception (10%)

Top 20 IIT colleges in India based on NIRF Engineering Ranking 2025

The year-wise NIRF Engineering Ranking clearly states that the leading position of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) is still intact. Of the 23 IITs operating across the nation, nine are ranked among the top 10 engineering institutions in the country due to their outstanding academic performance and research outcomes. 

The following table provides the NIRF 2025 ranking of all 23 IITs, allowing the aspirants to analyze the comparative ranks of these institutions.

Name of Institute	NIRF Ranking 2025	NIRF Ranking 2024	NIRF Ranking 2023
IIT Madras	1	1	1
IIT Delhi	2	2	2
IIT Bombay	3	3	3
IIT Kanpur	4	4	4
IIT Kharagpur	5	5	6
IIT Roorkee	6	6	5
IIT Hyderabad	7	8	8
IIT Guwahati	8	7	7
IIT BHU	10	10	15
IIT Indore	12	16	14
IIT ISM Dhanbad	15	15	17
IIT Patna	19	34	41
IIT Gandhinagar	25	18	18
IIT Mandi	26	31	33
IIT Jodhpur	27	28	30
IIT Ropar	32	22	22
IIT Bhubaneshwar	39	54	27
IIT Jammu	56	62	67
IIT Tirupati	57	61	59
IIT Palakkad	64	64	69
IIT Bhilai	72	73	81
IIT Dharwad	77	Not in the top 100	93

About the Top 10 IIT Colleges in India in Brief

The top 10 IITs in India are known to be among the best engineering institutions in India because of their high academic reputation, productive research, and good placements. Applying for the Top 10 IITs in India could play an important role in a student’s educational and career development.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

IIT Madras is located in Chennai and is one of the oldest and most prestigious IITs in India. IIT Madras is known for its academic excellence, offering research programs in diverse fields like engineering, technology, and management. IIT Madras has produced many successful professionals and entrepreneurs. The campus fosters innovation through world-class facilities and collaborations with industries and global universities.

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

Established in 1961, IIT Delhi is a prestigious institution in India. IIT Delhi is renowned for its high academic standards and research programs. IIT Delhi offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in engineering, technology, and sciences. IIT Delhi has graduated more than 60,000 students across various disciplines, including Engineering, Physical Sciences, Management, and Humanities & Social Sciences, since its establishment.

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Located in the center of India’s financial capital, Mumbai, IIT Bombay is a leader in technological education and research. Renowned for its faculty, infrastructure, and research facilities, IIT Bombay excels in engineering, computer science, and humanities. Its collaborative environment with industries and its strong emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship make it one of the top institutes in the world.

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

IIT Kanpur was established in 1959 and is one of India’s most respected institutions for education in engineering and technology. IIT Kanpur has delivered many professionals and entrepreneurs. Spread across 1055 Acres, IIT Kanpur offers world-class amenities for students to cultivate innovation and interdisciplinary learning.

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

IIT Kharagpur was established in 1951 and is known for its academic excellence and excellent research in engineering, science, and technology. With the mission to provide top-tier education and help students foster their professional skills, this is a hub of innovation and leadership. IIT Kharagpur has a diverse alumni of scientists, entrepreneurs, engineers, etc.

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

IIT Roorkee is ranked 6th in the NIRF rankings. It is one of the oldest technical institutes established in the year 1947. The institute is renowned for its engineering programs, particularly in civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering. IIT Roorkee has a rich legacy of excellence and a research-driven education.

Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad

Established in 2008, IIT Hyderabad is the fastest-growing IIT in India. IIT Hyderabad is recognized for its research excellence and academic programs in various fields of engineering and technology. It focuses on innovative teaching methodologies, research, and industry collaboration. The institute is renowned for its emphasis on entrepreneurship, technological advancements, and creating solutions to real-world challenges.

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

IIT Guwahati was established in 1994, located in Assam. The institute is known for its focus on engineering, technology, and research in fields like computer science, electronics, and biotechnology. With a beautiful campus along the Brahmaputra River, IIT Guwahati fosters innovation and entrepreneurship, offering a collaborative learning environment with strong industry partnerships.

Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi

IIT BHU Varanasi, previously known as the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, is a leader in technical education and research. Located in the cultural and spiritual hub of Varanasi, the institute excels in engineering, technology, and management disciplines. It has a strong tradition of academic excellence, innovation, and research, producing graduates who are leaders in various industries globally.

Indian Institute of Technology Indore

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore is located in Simrol on the Indore-Khandwa Road in Madhya Pradesh. IIT Indore is a renowned college and one of eight new IITs established by the Government of India. IIT Indore, which was formed lately, is ranked 12th in the NIRF 2025 Rankings in the ‘Engineering’ category and 27th in the ‘Overall’ category.

Seat Distribution of IIT colleges in India

In the IITs in India, more than 18000 seats are available for undergraduate science and engineering studies (BTech/BS/Integrated). According to the JoSAA, the total seats in IITs and their distribution are as follows.

Institute Name	Total Seats
IIT Bhubaneswar	496
IIT Bombay	1360
IIT Mandi	520
IIT Delhi	1239
IIT Indore	480
IIT Kharagpur	1919
IIT Hyderabad	630
IIT Jodhpur	610
IIT Kanpur	1210
IIT Madras	1121
IIT Gandhinagar	360
IIT Patna	817
IIT Roorkee	1353
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad	1210
IIT Ropar	646
IIT (BHU) Varanasi	1589
IIT Guwahati	962
IIT Bhilai	329
IIT Goa	165
IIT Palakkad	200
IIT Tirupati	254
IIT Jammu	305
IIT Dharwad	385

Top 5 IIT Colleges in India and their Placements

The placements in Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs) are considered to be one of the best-paying around the globe, with premium institutions offering foreign pay packets in excess of ₹4.3 crore per year and average pay packets that usually range from ₹17 LPA to ₹26 LPA based on the field and institute. We will have a quick look at the top 5 IITs in India along with their highest packages.

IIT	Highest Package	Placement Highlights	Top Recruiters
IIT Madras	₹1.31 CPA	1,091 offers secured; 256 recruiters participated; 50% students placed in Phase 1	JP Morgan Chase, Texas Instruments, Adobe, Amazon, EY India
IIT Delhi	₹1 CPA (Domestic)	1,050+ offers in Phase 1; 50+ international offers; 42% placements in core engineering	Microsoft, Texas Instruments, Bajaj Auto, Goldman Sachs, Ola Electric
IIT Bombay	₹3.67 CPA (International) ₹1.68 CPA (Domestic)	1,475 offers from 364 companies; 75% placement rate; highest international package among IITs	Amazon, Microsoft, Google, McKinsey, JP Morgan, Citibank, Goldman Sachs
IIT Kanpur	₹1.90 CPA (International) ₹1.20 CPA (Domestic)	Consistently among the top IITs for technology, analytics, and consulting placements	Google, Microsoft, Apple, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments
IIT Kharagpur	₹2.68 CPA	250+ recruiters participated; 1,100+ offers made; nearly 90% placements in top branches	Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Flipkart, Apple

IIT Colleges In India: Admission Process & Eligibility

The admission to IITs is conducted via a multi-stage process at a national level through JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and JoSAA Counseling. At the very first phase, an aspirant must take part in the JEE Main test organized by the National Testing Agency (NTA). After qualifying for JEE Main, only then does the candidate become eligible to appear in JEE Advanced.

Following the JEE Advanced qualifying and fulfilling the eligibility criteria, candidates are allowed to participate in the JoSAA counseling process, where they will fill their choice of IITs and their respective disciplines.

Scholarships and Financial Aid in IIT Colleges in India 

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) provide a variety of scholarships and financial aid programs to guarantee that qualified students can pursue a great education without financial restraints. Take a look at some major scholarships and financial support in IIT colleges in India that are discussed below.

Scholarship	Eligibility	Benefit
National Scholarships (State-wise)	Eligible students as per state norms	Varies by State Government
Central Sector Scholarship for SC Students	Top 10 SC students in JEE, family income ≤ ₹2 lakh	Fee reimbursement + ₹45,000 grant + ₹2,200/month stipend
Central Sector Scholarship for ST Students	Top 5 ST students in JEE, family income ≤ ₹2 lakh	Full fee reimbursement
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship	Minority students, family income ≤ ₹2.5 lakh	Fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
MHRD Scholarship for Single Girl Child	As per the Government of India norms	₹40,000 per year
Aditya Birla Scholarship	Top 20 JEE rank holders	₹60,000 per year
INSPIRE Scholarship	BS-MS and Dual Degree students	₹60,000 per year

Pros and Cons between New IITs vs Old IITs

Many aspirants thought that old IITs are better than new IITs, but this is not always true. Let’s do a comparative analysis of the new IITs and the old IITs.

Factor	Old IITs	New IITs
Campus	(IIT Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Guwahati)	(Hyderabad, Indore, Gandhinagar, Ropar, Jodhpur, etc.)
Reputation	Strong national and global reputation built over decades	Growing reputation with increasing recognition
Alumni Network	Large and influential alumni base worldwide	Smaller but rapidly expanding alumni network
Placements	Higher average packages and more international offers	Improving placement records with strong growth trends
Recruiters	Attract top global companies and a wider range of recruiters	Good recruiter participation, though relatively fewer global firms
Research Funding	Higher research grants and established research centers	Modern research facilities with increasing funding support
Campus Infrastructure	Well-established campuses with extensive facilities	Newer campuses with state-of-the-art infrastructure
Faculty Strength	Experienced faculty with strong research profiles	Young and dynamic faculty with growing research output
Cut-offs	Generally, higher JEE Advanced cut-offs	Comparatively lower cut-offs, offering easier entry opportunities
Industry Collaboration	Strong industry partnerships and incubation ecosystems	Expanding industry collaborations and startup support
Student Opportunities	Wider exposure to internships, exchange programs, and networking	Growing opportunities with smaller student competition

Conclusion

Among the List of the Top 10 IIT colleges in India 2026, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Kharagpur are the leading institutions, but there are several other IITs that are steadily growing in prominence in terms of their academic performance and excellent placement records.

Before making final decisions during JoSAA counselling, students should consider their ranks, branch preferences, placement chances, research facilities, and career objectives. Choosing the right institute and branch can have a substantial impact on future academic and career performance.