The history of the IIT system dates back to 1946 when a committee was set up by Hon'ble Sir Jogendra Singh, Member of the Viceroy's Executive Council, Department of Education, Health and Agriculture to consider the setting up of Higher Technical Institutions for post war industrial development in India. The 22 member committee headed by Sri N.R.Sarkar, in its report, recommended the establishment of four Higher Technical Institutions in the Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern regions, possibly on the lines of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, with a number of secondary institutions affiliated to it. The report also urged the speedy establishment of all the four institutions with the ones in the East and the West to be started immediately.
In the year 1952, under the leadership of Professor E. Braner, a group of ten students formed the nucleus of this department. Soon it developed into a full-fledged undergraduate programme also offering post-graduate courses in 1956, for the first time, in the country. The Institute of Town Planners had also its beginning in this department. With time, pioneering attempts were made to start advance training in Building Science, Application of Computer Techniques in Architectural design Simulation, Presentation Graphics and Construction Technology. The consultancy activities of the department range from government and large corporate clients in the country ranging from design of large townships, institutions, landscaped environmental planning to conservation of heritage sites and buildings.

	Bachelor of Technology
	Bachelor of Architecture
	Dual Degree Programme
	Master of Science
	Master of Technology
	Master of City Planning
	Master of Business Administration
	LL.B. Degree in Intellectual Property Rights
	Master of Medical Science & Technology
	Diploma Programme in Intellectual Property Law
	Master of science - by research
	Doctor of Philosphy
	Doctor of Sciences

IIT Kharagpur offers three kinds of degrees in its undergraduate programmes. It includes Bachelor of Technology Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Science. It offers postgraduate degrees in technology management and science . Besides this, some specialized postgraduate programmes include Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology , Master in Medical Science and Technology , Master of City Planning , Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law , and Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Operation & Management . It offers the Ph.D degree as a part of its doctoral education programme.The campus life of IIT Kharagpur is exciting. Students have to stay in hostels as a part of their study and participate in various events. The four broad categories of events are Sports, Social and Cultural activities, and Technology and Hall affairs. The institute also organizes techno- management festival known as Kshitij. The annual robotics competition Robotix is organized during Kshitij. The cultural festival, Spring Fest is held January, which includes cultural activities along with performances by famous singers and performers. Illumination and Rangoli festivals are two other popular and exclusive events of IIT Kharagpur.