It has been declared as an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt of India.

It was founded as a joint venture between the state and the central government, originally under the name Regional Engineering College, Jalandhar, Punjab, India (RECJ).

Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology was established in the year 1987 as Regional Engineering College and was given the status of National Institute of Technology (Deemed University) by the Government of India on 17 October 2002, under the aegis of Ministry of Human Resource Development, New Delhi.

The residential accommodation in hostels comprises cubicles and dormitories which have four-seater, two-seater, and one-seater facilities allotted on the basis of the year and course of study the student is pursuing.

The institute is regularly visited by Indian and foreign multinational corporations for offering jobs to final-year B.Tech.

A large number of reputed Industrial houses in the country visit the Institution and select the final year students as Engineers/ Management Trainees.

The fest involves events from all the departments, including from robotics, workshops, guest lectures, and informals.

[citation needed] Utkansh: A cultural fest that is conducted during the even semester, which aims at drawing out the creative side of the techies on campus.

Each day usually has theme-based events; previous themes have included folk, rock, Kavi Sammelan (poets meet), comedy, theatre, fusion, etc.