A comprehensive, plain-English guide for students & parents about India’s oldest IIT!
Introduction
Did you know that IIT Kharagpur is not only the oldest but also the largest IITs in India? And its campus is even larger than Vatican City?
With decades of excellence, IIT Kharagpur has been in the Ivy League in terms of technical education, research, and innovation in India. The institute has been ranked among the top engineering institutes in the country, boasting an impeccable reputation for strong academics and research. IIT Kharagpur’s alumni are at the forefront of technology, business, law, and public administration.
If you are someone who values historical legacy, strong academics, top placements, and a vibrant campus life, IIT Kharagpur should be a top choice in your ‘Destination IIT’ journey!
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about IIT Kharagpur: cut-offs, fees, campus, placements, sports and extracurricular activities, alumni, and more!
Quick Snapshot
| Particulars | Details |
| Established | 1951 (First IIT to be set up) |
| Location | Kharagpur, West Bengal |
| Campus Size | 2100 acres |
| NIRF 2024 Rank | #6 – Overall and #5 – Engineering |
| JEE Advanced Cut-off (2024) | CSE: Rank ~300; EE: Rank ~1300; Mech: Rank ~3500; Civil: Rank ~6500; Chem: Rank ~5500; Aero: Rank ~4100 |
| Notable Alumni | Narayana Murthy, Founder of Infosys Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google & Alphabet Arjun Malhotra, Co-founder, HCL Technologies V.K. Sarawat, Former DRDO Chief Rajat Gupta, Former MD McKinsey & Co. |
About IIT Kharagpur:
IIT Kharagpur is located in the industrial town in Kharagpur in Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal. Spread across a 2100-acre campus, IIT-KGP is known as the ‘Mother IIT’, as it has mentored several younger IITs in their initial years.
The campus houses more than 22,000 people, including, students, faculty, staff, and their families. The institute also has its own railway station, post office, banks, and even a market. In other words, it is almost like a self-sustained township.
The institute has 19 academic departments, 13 centers of excellence, and 8 multidisciplinary schools. With over 12,000 students and 700+ faculty members, it is one of the largest residential campuses in the country – almost a city in itself. It offers a wide range of academic programs from pure sciences to humanities, engineering and management.
IIT-KGP houses Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law (RGSoIPL), the first law school in any IIT in the country and the Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSoM), one of India’s topmost B-schools.
Interestingly, IIT Kharagpur is also the only IIT with a full-fledged architecture school, offering
B. Arch, M. Arch, M. Plan, and PhD programs.
History and Legacy
IIT Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) was established in 1951 on the site of the former Hijli, Detention Camp Kharagpur in Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal. Interestingly, this jail was used as a detention camp during British rule, where freedom fighters were imprisoned.
It was the first IIT to be granted ‘Institute of Eminence’ (in 2019) by the Government of India. It is also recognised as an Institute of National Importance under the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961.
In the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) 2024,
- IIT Kharagpur was ranked at no. 5th in both the Engineering category and no. 6th in the overall category.
In QS World University Rankings:
- QS Asia University Rankings 2024: The institute IIT-KGP was ranked 59th in Asia.
- QS World University Rankings 2025: IIT-KGP was ranked 222nd globally. and 3rd among all IITs in India.
- QS World University Rankings Subject-wise (in 2024): IIT-KGP was ranked 52nd globally in Engineering and Technology.
Infrastructure
1. Academic & Research Facilities
IIT-KGP’s central library, officially known as the Central Library Complex, is one of the largest technical libraries in Asia, with a vast collection of books, research papers, over 2,000 e-journals, and digital resources; accessible round the clock to students.
IIT-KGP has more than 70 academic units – including departments of engineering, architecture, management, law, humanities, and medical sciences – along with 13 schools and several centers of excellence and R&D units. The institute has over 100 advanced laboratories for research in fields such as AI, ML, Robotics, Clean Energy, and Nanotechnology.
IIT-KGP’s research ecosystem also has
- Technology Incubation & Entrepreneurship Training Society (TIETS) – a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, which supports students in becoming entrepreneurs.
- Science and Technology Entrepreneurs’ Park (STEP) – It is an Incubation hub that helps students transform ideas into business ventures having supported over 200 ventures.
- Super-specialty centers – Including India’s first Cryogenic Engineering Centre, Central Research Facility, and Centers for Rural Development, Intellectual Property, and Railway Research.
2. Hostels & Mess Facilities
The campus has 22 hostels (called halls of residence) for male and female students. Each hostel is equipped with modern amenities, recreational facilities, and high-speed Wi-Fi and has its own mess serving a variety of cuisines. The institute’s dining halls are well-known for serving nutritious and diverse meals.
The campus also has essential amenities including a 24/7 hospital, post office, banks with ATMs, and shopping complexes.
3. Sports & Extra-curricular Activities
IIT-KGP has extensive sports infrastructure, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, large stadium, gymnasiums, grounds for cricket, football, tennis, basketball, and volleyball, and indoor sports halls.
Major annual festivals of IITK include:
- Spring Fest: The annual cultural festival among the biggest in India attracts participants nationwide and is known for its grand events and performances.
- Kshitij: The annual techno-management fest, considered one of the largest of its kind in Asia.
- Goonj: The annual intra-college cultural festival where hostel units compete in various cultural events.
- Entrepreneurship Cell Global Summit (E-Summit): A student-run annual entrepreneurship event promoting innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
Fees
The total fee for the four-year B. Tech program (including tuition, hostel, mess, and other charges) ranges from ₹8 lakh to ₹11 lakh, depending on category and annual family income (2025–26).
1. IIT Kharagpur Fee Structure for 2025 (Undergraduate Programs)
| Particulars | Gen/OBC/EWS (>₹5 lakh/year) | Gen/OBC/EWS (₹1–5 lakh/ year) | Gen/OBC/EWS (<₹1 lakh/ year) | SC/ST/PwD |
| Tuition Fee | ₹1,00,000 | ₹33,333 | NIL | NIL |
| One-Time Payment | ₹11,700 | ₹11,700 | ₹11,700 | ₹11,700 |
| Other Charges | ₹46,460 | ₹46,460 | ₹46,460 | ₹46,460 |
| Caution Deposit | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 |
| Amount Paid to JoSAA | ₹30,000 | ₹30,000 | ₹30,000 | ₹15,000 |
| Balance Due | ₹1,34,160* | ₹67,460* | ₹34,160* | ₹49,160* |
* Approximate values; subject to revision based on annual updates or hostel/mess charges.
Placements
IIT Kharagpur has a strong placement record supported by its vast global alumni network. Top multinational corporations from diverse fields – including consulting, core engineering, technology, and startups, like Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Goldman Sachs – regularly recruit from the campus.
Average Salary (All program combined)
| Salary per Annum (in INR) | ||||
| Session | Average Salary | Highest Domestic | Highest International | Placement Percentage |
| 2021-22 | ₹18.75 | ₹1.0 Crore | ₹2.40 Crore | 86.79% |
| 2022-23 | ₹24.00 | ₹1.0 Crore | ₹2.68 Crore | 79.70% |
| 2023-24 | ₹19.76 | ₹1.05 Crore | ₹2.14 Crore | 83.91% |
Faculty & Academics
1. Faculty
- IIT-KGP has over 700 faculty members across departments, including engineering, sciences, law, management, and humanities.
- The faculty includes industry experts and globally cited researchers, with many Padma awardees, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar prize recipients, and winners of prestigious international awards.
2. Academic features
- IIT-KGP’s curriculum is strongly research-oriented, encouraging students to participate in advanced research projects.
- A unique feature of IIT-KGP is the Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law (RGSoIPL), the only Law School within the IIT system.
- The institute follows a flexible curriculum, offering a wide range of electives and numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary study.
- As the oldest IIT, IIT-KGP has collaborations with prestigious global universities for student exchange and joint research, enabling a global learning experience.
- IIT-KGP is regarded as a pioneer in interdisciplinary studies, with leading schools in intellectual property law, architecture, and entrepreneurship.
Alumni Impact
Being the oldest IIT, IIT-KGP apparently has illustrious alumni network with leaders who have shaped business, academia, technology, and public life, both in India and abroad.
| Names | Details |
| K. Radhakrishnan | Former Chairman, ISRO |
| Narayana Murthy | Founder, Infosys |
| Sundar Pichai | CEO of Google and Alphabet |
| Arjun Malhotra | Co-founder, HCL Technologies |
| B.K. Syngal | Former Chairman, Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) |
| V.K. Sarawat | Former Director General, DRDO |
| Partha Pratim Chakrabarti | Former Director, IIT Kharagpur |
| Kiran Seth | Founder, SPIC MACAY (Padma Shri) |
| Rajat Gupta | Ex-Managing Director, McKinsey & Co. |
IIT-KGP alumni are not only successful entrepreneurs and CEOs but also policymakers, researchers, and cultural leaders who continue to make a global impact.
Comparison with Other Top Institutions
A comparison of IIT Kharagpur on various parameters with the other top institutions of India for a better overall perspective:
| Metric | IIT Kharagpur | IIT Madras | IIT Delhi | IIT Bombay | IIT Kanpur |
| NIRF 2024 Ranking | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Highest Package (2024) | ₹2.14 Cr | ₹1.98 Cr (In 2023) | ₹2.05 Cr | ₹3.67 Cr | ₹1.90 Cr |
| B. Tech Average Package (2024) | ₹24 LPA (B. Tech) | ₹22 LPA (Overall) | ₹21.9 LPA (UG Avg.) | ₹23.5 LPA (Approx.) | ₹26.27 LPA (Overall) |
| B. Tech Placement Rate (2024) | 79.7% | 80% | 84.94% | 83.39% | 95.90% (CSE) |
| Campus Size | 2100 acres | 617 acres | 325 acres | 550 acres | 1055 acres |
To Sum It Up
IIT Kharagpur, combine a rich legacy with one of the largest campuses in the country and a strong academic and research-driven environment. Its consistent performance in national and global rankings, strong placement records, and influential alumni network make it a leading choice for aspiring engineers.
For JEE aspirants, IIT-KGP offers more than just technical education – it can also serve as a gateway to diverse fields such as law, management, public policy, entrepreneurship, and research.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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How can I get admission into IIT Kharagpur?
Admission to the BTech program is through JEE Advanced, for which you must first qualify JEE Main. Seat allocation is done via JoSAA counselling.
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What kind of rank do I need in JEE Advanced to get into IIT Kharagpur?
For Computer Science Engineering, you generally need an All-India Rank (AIR) within the top 300. For branches like Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, ranks in the 1500–4000 range are typical, while other branches may go up to approx. 7000.
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What are the hostel facilities like at IIT Kharagpur?
The campus has 21 hostels (16 for males and 5 for females), referred to as Halls of Residence. These are named after notable Indian personalities and come with modern amenities, sports/common rooms, and high-speed Wi-Fi.
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Will I get a separate/single room at IIT Kharagpur?
In the first year, students usually share double or triple rooms. From the second year onwards, most students are allotted single rooms, though some hostels may still have shared rooms depending on availability. All rooms are furnished and Wi-Fi/LAN enabled.
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What is the student-teacher ratio at IIT Kharagpur?
The ratio is approximately 21:1, which is higher than some other IITs. This impacts personal mentorship but is balanced by the institute’s strong academic ecosystem and research opportunities.