For JEE Advanced aspirants and students closely tracking admission trends, understanding the annual intake of IITs goes beyond mere numbers. The size of an institute’s intake reflects its academic scale, infrastructure strength, and diversity of programmes offered.

Admissions to IITs are centrally regulated by the Government of India through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA). Every year, JoSAA publishes the officially approved seat matrix, detailing the number of undergraduate seats for each IIT, as sanctioned by the Ministry of Education. Using this data, it becomes clear which IITs consistently admit the highest number of students annually.

IIT with the Highest Student Intake Per Year

According to JoSAA Counselling data for the academic year 2025–26, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur records the highest student intake per year among all IITs. JoSAA, the official authority responsible for seat allocation, releases a detailed seat intake list annually, covering branch-wise and category-wise distribution for each IIT.

IIT Kharagpur offers a total of 1,919 seats, considering all courses and category-wise allocations. Among all Indian Institutes of Technology, IIT Kharagpur consistently maintains the highest undergraduate seat intake, making it the IIT with the largest annual admissions.

Below is the list of IITs with the highest seat intake as per JoSAA Counselling data:

Why Does IIT Kharagpur Have the Highest Intake?

Several factors contribute to IIT Kharagpur having the largest student intake every year, including:

• Established in 1951, it is the oldest IIT in India

• The campus spans over 2,100 acres, making it the largest IIT campus in the country

• It offers the widest range of science and engineering programmes, including traditional B.Tech courses, interdisciplinary programmes, and integrated M.Sc courses

Why Do Some IITs Admit More Students Than Others?

Variations in student intake across IITs arise due to multiple factors such as historical background, government planning, infrastructure capacity, and the need to maintain academic excellence. While newer IITs are steadily expanding their intake as infrastructure develops, older and more established IITs generally have higher and more stable admission numbers.

Key factors influencing higher student intake at certain IITs include:

• Historical legacy of the institute

• Campus size and land availability

• Well-established infrastructure

• Diversity of academic programmes

• Seat allocation across multiple disciplines

• Faculty-to-student ratio

• Demand for specific courses and branches

Factors propelling Higher Student getting into IIT’S

Historical Background                      : Legacy & Reputation

Campus Size                                     : Large & Modern Facilities

Establishment Infrastructure            : Advanced Labs & Amenities         

Program Diversity                             : Wide Range of Courses

Seat Intake Programs                      : Increased Nos of Seats

Faculty to Student Ratio                   : Better Guidance & Support

Demand for Programs                      : Popular & Emerging Fields

Among all 23 Indian Institutes of Technology, IIT Kharagpur clearly leads in terms of maximum student intake per year. This highlights its expansive campus, strong academic portfolio, and rich institutional legacy. Other IITs with high intake numbers include IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Kanpur, while the newer IITs continue to expand gradually as they grow.