AICTE approves 5,099 new institutions in 2024-25; computer applications, management lead

In the 2024-25 academic year, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approved the establishment of 5,099 new institutions, leading to a total approved intake of 7,49,872 seats, as per the council's annual report. This significant expansion was mainly driven by institutions offering computer applications and management programs.

Specifically, computer applications programs received approval for 3,959 institutions with a combined capacity to accommodate 3,65,848 students, making it the most popular among the programs listed by AICTE. Management programs followed closely, with 3,500 approved institutions capable of enrolling 3,47,644 students. These two programs together accounted for over 7.1 lakh of the 7.5 lakh seats approved across new institutions during the year.

In contrast, engineering and technology programs saw considerably fewer approvals, with only 107 approved institutions offering 34,045 seats – less than one-tenth of the capacity approved in computer applications or management programs. The AICTE report also highlighted approvals for smaller programs such as design, hotel management and catering, applied arts and crafts, and planning.

Of the 7,49,872 approved seats, 94 percent were undergraduate seats, while postgraduate programs accounted for 29,974 seats, and diploma programs accounted for 14,490 seats.