In India, Institute of National Importance (INI) is a status that may be conferred on a premier public higher education institution by an act of the Parliament of India for such institutions which, "serve as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country or state." Institutes of National Importance receive special recognition, higher autonomy, and direct funding from the Government of India. Some of India's highest ranked universities, including all of the Indian Institutes of Technology,National Institutes of Design, National Institutes of Technology, All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, Indian Institutes of Information Technology and Indian Institutes of Management, have this status.

Common Acts

Architecture

The Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPA) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the 'School of Planning and Architecture Act, 2014' and its subsequent amendments.

Design

Engineering and Technology

Food Technology

National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K) and National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T) are declared Institutes of National Importance through the National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Act, 2021.

Management

Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017 and its subsequent amendments.

Medicine

All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the 'All India Institute of Medical Sciences Act, 1956' and its subsequent amendments.

Pharmacy

National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the 'National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998' and its subsequent amendments.

Science

Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) are Institutes of National Importance through the amendments in the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research Act, 2007.

Summary statistics

As of June 2024, there are 171 Institutes of National Importance under various Acts of Parliament. These INIs include: 23 IITs, 20 AIIMSs, 21 IIMs, 31 NITs, 25 IIITs, 7 IISERs, 7 NIPERs, 5 NIDs, 3 SPAs, 2 NIFTEMs, 10 central universities, 4 medical research institutes, and 13 other specialized institutes.

Indian Institute of Technology (IITs)

Indian Institute of Management (IIMs)

Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs)

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISERs)

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMSs)

National Institute of Technology (NITs)

National Institute of Design (NIDs)

National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEMs)

National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs)

School of Planning and Architecture (SPAs)

Central Universities

Medical Research Institutes

Other Specialized Institutes

Footnotes