It is one of the 31 NITs in India, and as such is directly under the control of the Ministry of Education (MHRD).

It is the third in the chain of 8 NITs established as a part of the Second Five Year Plan (1956–61) by the Government of India.

The date of 15 August, Independence Day in India, was chosen for the laying of the foundation stone.

It was among the first eight Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs) established as part of the Second Five-Year Plan (1956–1961).

[1] The institute offers a Ph.D. in various streams and twelve semester courses various disciplines.