[6][7] IIT (BHU) Varanasi has 16 departments, 3 inter-disciplinary schools and a Humanities & Social Sciences Section.

The earlier system of regional admission based on merit lists was replaced in 1972 by admission through Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) for undergraduate courses and Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) for postgraduate courses.

On 4 August 2010 a bill seeking to amend the Institutes of Technology Act 1961 to declare IT-BHU an IIT was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for HRD, D.

[18] The Department of Architecture, Planning and Design was set up in the Institute in collaboration with IIT Roorkee, beginning its academic activities in the session 2019–2020.

However, IIT-BHU has special provisions under The Institutes of Technology Act, 1961, where the executive council of Banaras Hindu University can nominate the Vice Chairman, as well as two members of the board.

Admission to all programs is expressly through the Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology.

The library also maintains an online repository containing student thesis and publications, transcripts and event videos, available on the Institute intranet.

The IIT (BHU) Gymkhana, housed in Kings' Pavilion, is the primary hub of all extracurricular activities in the institute.

[34] IIT BHU also participates in Banaras Hindu University's Inter-college festival Spandan[35][36] which is held annually in February.

[47] It is a monthly newsletter (previously bi-annual), which aims to apprise the alumni of the various happenings in IIT (BHU), Varanasi.

IIT (BHU) has faced several controversies over the years, reflecting broader challenges in maintaining institutional standards and addressing systemic issues.

[65] [66] [67] In April 2014, a professor from the Civil Engineering Department of IIT (BHU) was removed from service following allegations of sexual harassment by a final-year student.

The professor challenged his removal, but in February 2015, the Allahabad High Court dismissed his plea, ruling that a broad establishment of facts was sufficient for termination.

[68] In January 2016, a distressing incident emerged involving a Dalit student from IIT (BHU), who, faced with severe financial constraints, attempted to sell his kidney to cover his education loans.

This case drew significant media attention and raised concerns about the systemic issues students from marginalized backgrounds face in prestigious institutions.

[69] [70] In January 2016, IIT (BHU) dismissed Professor Sandeep Pandey, a Magsaysay Award winner, citing national interest.

The institute justified the expulsion by alleging that Pandey was influencing students in a manner deemed Anti-National and Pro-Naxal.

Pandey contested this decision, arguing that his dismissal was politically motivated and linked to the Vice-Chancellor's alignment with RSS ideology.

[71][72][73][74] The situation reached a legal resolution in April 2016 when the Allahabad High Court quashed Pandey’s termination, declaring it unjustified and against natural justice.

The court's ruling emphasized that the dismissal lacked proper adherence to legal and administrative procedures.

This raised concerns about the institution's adherence to the reservation policy, prompting discussions on potential biases in the selection process.

[80] In 2024, a case of corruption was unearthed in the Civil Engineering Department of IIT (BHU), Varanasi, involving fake meetings and cash incentives.

Reports revealed misuse of funds and fraudulent activities in official proceedings, raising concerns over financial irregularities.