About IIT Roorkee

Indian Institute of Technology - Roorkee is among the foremost of institutes of national importance in higher technological education and in basic and applied research. Since its establishment, the Institute has played a vital role in providing the technical manpower and know-how to the country and in pursuit of research. The Institute ranks amongst the best technological institutions in the world and has contributed to all sectors of technological development. It has also been considered a trend-setter in the area of education and research in the field of science, technology, and engineering.

The Institute has completed 150th year of its existence in October 1996. On September 21, 2001 an Ordinance issued by the Government of India declared it as the nation's seventh Indian Institute of Technology. The Ordinance is now converted into an Act by the Parliament to make IIT, Roorkee as an "Institution of National Importance".

The Institute offers Bachelor's Degree courses in 10 disciplines of Engineering and Architecture and Postgraduate's Degree in 55 disciplines of Engineering, Applied Science, Architecture and planning. The Institute has facility for doctoral work in all Departments and Research Centres.

The Institute admits students to B.Tech. and B.Arch. courses through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) conducted at various centres all over India.

Vision

To be the fountainhead of new ideas and innovations in science and technology and continue to be a source of pride for all Indians Mission

To create an environment that shall foster the growth of intellectually capable, innovative and entrepreneurial professionals, who shall contribute to the growth of Science and Technology in partnership with industry and develop and harness it for the welfare of the nation and mankind.

Core Values

• Academic integrity and accountability
• Respect and tolerance for the views of every individual
• Attention to issues of national relevance as well as of global concern
• Holistic understanding, including knowledge of the human sciences
• Appreciation of intellectual excellence and creativity
• An unfettered spirit of learning exploration, rationality and enterprise
• Sensitivity to social responsibilities

History

The Institute has an illustrious history and a glorious past. It was James Thomason, Lt. Governor, North Western Province who proposed the establishment of a College of Civil Engineering at Roorkee to train engineering personnel at various levels for public works of the country particularly for the construction work of Ganga Canal which started in 1842. The aqueduct for the proposed Ganga Canal, which was a challenging piece of work, was situated at Roorkee. Thus, the Roorkee College was started in 1847 when the concept of a college to train civil engineers as against military engineers was not entertained even in England. Thus, It was the first Engineering College in the entire British Empire at that time.After the death of James Thomason in 1853, the College was very deservedly named as Thomason College of Civil Engineering in 1854. It was elevated to the first technical University of India in 1949.

The College laid the foundation of modern engineering education and the use of civil engineering practices in the infrastructure development of the country. Major civil works in the country like dams, canals, roads, highways, railways, bridges etc., are the outcome of the engineering education imparted in this College.

In 1946, when teaching in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering was started, the college was renamed as Thomason College of Engineering. In 1949, it was elevated to the status of the first engineering University of independent India. Ever since its inception, the University has grown phenomenally in size and reach. On September 21, 2001, the University was renamed as an IIT by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament and is now known as the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee . The most conspicuous feature of the Institute is that the academic directions are all the time conceived to be relevant to the Indian society and its needs and prepare the students to meet global challenges.