India’s premier engineering institutes are not merely expanding capacity; they are reimagining what an IIT education should look like in an era shaped by artificial intelligence, quantum computing, sustainability and data science.The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have added more than 600 undergraduate seats for the 2026-27 academic session, taking the total intake to 18,826 from 18,160 last year. However, the more significant development is the introduction of 18 new academic programmes that signal a growing shift in the country’s engineering education landscape.Data show that while seat capacity has grown by nearly 3.7 per cent, IITs are moving away from narrowly defined engineering branches towards interdisciplinary programmes that blend technology, science, healthcare, sustainability and data-driven decision-making.Among the institutes, IIT Jodhpur has recorded the highest increase in intake with 140 seats, followed by IIT Mandi with 120 additional seats.The academic changes are even more striking. IIT Kanpur has introduced a programme in Intelligent Systems, while IIT Mandi has introduced Quantum Science and Engineering, reflecting the growing importance of next-generation technologies.IIT Indore has merged Biomedical Engineering with Data Science, recognising the increasing role of artificial intelligence and analytics in healthcare.Traditional engineering disciplines are also being reshaped. IIT Mandi has integrated data analytics into its chemical and agricultural engineering programmes, underscoring the growing importance of digital skills across sectors.The diversification extends beyond engineering. IIT Dharwad has introduced science majors in Mathematics and Physics, while IIT Indore’s programme in Environmental Economics and Sustainable Engineering, IIT Palakkad’s Materials Engineering course and IIT Kharagpur’s Biomedical Engineering programme highlight a growing emphasis on sustainability, advanced materials and healthcare innovation.IITs 2026: By the numbersTotal undergraduate intake: 18,826Intake in 2025: 18,160Additional seats this year: 666Growth in intake: 3.7 per centNew programmes introduced: 18Highest seat addition: IIT Jodhpur (140)Second-highest seat addition: IIT Mandi (120)