IIT (ISM) Dhanbad

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IIT (ISM) Dhanbad is a public technical university in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India. It began in 1926 as the Indian School of Mines (ISM) and today offers a wide range of engineering, science, management, and humanities programs. In 2016, it was upgraded to Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dhanbad (IIT ISM Dhanbad) by a government act.

History in brief
- Founded on 9 December 1926 by the British Indian Government, modeled after the Royal School of Mines in London.
- Initially focused on mining and mineral sciences, it later expanded to other engineering disciplines and sciences.
- In 1967 it gained university status under the University Grants Commission, and over the years added courses in Petroleum Engineering, Geology, Geophysics, Industrial Engineering, and more.
- After a long discussion about upgrading ISM to an IIT, the Union Cabinet approved the move in 2016. The IIT Act amendment was passed, and ISM became IIT (ISM) Dhanbad in September 2016.

Campus
- Total area: about 444.98 acres; main campus is around 218 acres in Dhanbad, with a future campus planned in Nirsa spanning roughly 226.98 acres.
- Student body: around 10,000 students (undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral).
- Hostels: 11 hostels named after gemstones (e.g., Topaz, Diamond, Emerald, Rosaline, Jasper, Aquamarine). Four hostels are for girls and seven for boys, including options for international students.
- Notable spots on campus include the Student Activity Center, main canteen, Ram Dhani, Library Basement, Penman Auditorium, Heritage Building, Oval Garden, and Ruby Park.

Academics and programs
- IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has 18 departments across four broad areas: Engineering, Basic Sciences, Social Sciences, and Business.
- Engineering: Chemical, Civil, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical, Electronics, Environmental, Fuel, Mineral and Metallurgical, Mechanical, Mining, Mining Machinery, Petroleum, and others.
- Basic Sciences: Chemistry, Geology, Geophysics, Mathematics & Computing, Physics.
- Social Sciences: Humanities and Social Science; Management Studies (in the IIT format).
- Business: Department of Management Studies.
- Courses offered include:
- BTech (4 years) and Integrated BTech-MTech (5 years)
- Integrated BS-MS (5 years)
- MTech (2 years)
- MSc (2 years)
- Integrated MSc-MTech (3 years)
- MBA (2 years)
- MA in Digital Humanities and Social Sciences (2 years)
- PhD and post-doctoral fellowships
- Admissions are through national and institute-specific exams:
- BTech and Integrated programs via JEE Advanced
- MTech via GATE or an institute exam
- MBA via CAT
- MSc, Integrated MSc-MTech, and PhD via institute exams

Research and centers
- Central Research Facility acts as a key research hub and think tank for several government ministries.
- ENVIS Centre on Mining Environment provides data and information on mining-related environmental issues.
- Industry Institute Interaction Facility in Kolkata and collaborations like the Australia-India Clean Coal and Energy Technology Center (AICCET) with Curtin University.
- IIT (ISM) Dhanbad emphasizes research and industry partnerships through various national and international collaborations.

Rankings and recognition
- National (India): Strong performance in NIRF rankings, with top positions in various categories in 2024 (e.g., engineering and overall rankings).
- International: Ranked in the 281–290 band in Asia by QS Asia University Rankings (2023) and placed in the 1001–1200 range globally by Times Higher Education (2023).
- The institute is widely regarded for its engineering programs and strong ties to industry.

Campus life and culture
- Student life centers on a vibrant campus with many cultural, technical, and sports fests. Notable events include Srijan (cultural), and other departmental fests and competitions.
- The IIT (ISM) Student Gymkhana coordinates student governance, leadership activities, and extracurricular involvement.
- Sports and recreation facilities are integrated into campus life through the Sports and Physical Education Centre (SPEC) and other clubs.

Notable alumni
- IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has produced many prominent figures in geology, mining, engineering, and science, including Padma Shri awardees and leaders in industry and research.

Website
- Official site: www.iitism.ac.in

In summary, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad blends a historic focus on mining and mineral sciences with broad engineering, science, and management education. It became an IIT in 2016 and continues to grow as a major public technical university in India, offering extensive programs, strong research facilities, and active campus life.