[2] Established in 1984, it is a deemed to be university, autonomous, fully funded and controlled by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Education, Government of India.

The foundation stone of the institute was set on 4 March 1984 by the President of India, Giani Zail Singh.

Third Convocation of the institute was held on 12 October 2012 in the presence of Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal[8][9] NERIST is located in Nirjuli in the Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh at the foothills of Eastern Himalaya.

The institute lies in the Capital-complex, consisting of (Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nurjuli and Banderdewa) and is accessible by road to the neighbouring cities of Assam.

The campus has faculty and staff quarters, Medical Health Unit, Post office, guest houses, Kendriya Vidyalaya, KG School, several cooperative stores, parks, temple, mosque, church, namghar and an SBI bank branch with two atm outlets.

The Board of Management is headed by the director of Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Gautam Baruah.

The board appoints a well-known academic, generally from north east India, as director of NERIST.

The dean(s) for Student Affairs, Academic, Planning & Development and the Registrar oversee all other major activities.

Students who join by virtue of NEE-2 or JEE Mains exam, enroll for a 4 years degree programme.

[13] The Certificate and the Diploma levels emphasize the practical aspects of engineering, which help an individual become an entrepreneur or to face the day–to–day problems of industry.

The NEE-I, for which eligibility is a pass in Class X, is held towards the end of April every year for admissions to the Base Module.

[13] Admission to the postgraduate programmes in technology is based on the performance of candidates in all India-level entrance examination GATE conducted by the IITs on behalf of the MHRD, Government of India.

The Recreational and Creative Activities Forum (RACAF) organises Sonabyss - a four-day annual cultural fest around October.

Shristi started as the technical-festival of NERIST in 2005 which has become the techno-management festival after the commencement of Management Studies at the institute.