Dharwad: Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javdekar inaugurated state’s first IIT in Dharwad on August 29 in the presence of central, state ministers and academicians.
The premier education institute had already started functioning with faculty from IIT Mumbai from this academic year from a temporary structure and the plan to have the IIT in Dharwad was a long pending demand.

Around 2000 students with Science and Mathematics background have been invited to the inaugural function to sensitize them about the higher learning institute.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Union Chemical and Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar, Member of Parliament  from Dharwad Prahlad Joshi, ministers, legislators and prominent citizens from the area were present on the occasion.

Located at Walmi centre on the city’s outskirts till its permanent campus is built in the sprawling 470 acres allocated by the government at nearby Kelgeri town, the institute will be mentored by IIT-Bombay over the next three years.

The inauguration, which was planned last month end, had to be postponed due to the Kalasa Banduri agitation.