IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Wasn’t Always an IIT

When an aspirant hears the name IIT (ISM) Dhanbad today, they immediately associate it with the prestige and rigorous academics and the competitive aura of the Indian Institute of Technology. But what many don’t realise is that this institution’s journey began long before it earned its name as the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). But what many don’t realise is that the institution’s journey began long before it earned the IIT designation.

The story of this institution stretches back over a century to a time when India’s industrial and mining sectors were still evolving under colonial administrations. Long before the IIT tag raised its national positioning, this institute was already shaping India’s technical workforce.

How Did IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Evolve Over the Years?

Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India, formally launched the Indian School of Mines on December 9, 1926.  This institution was founded with a singular focus that was to train mining engineers and specialists for India’s rapidly growing mining industry. Under Section 3 of the UGC Act of 1956, it was designated as a deemed university in 1967. Since its inception, IIT (ISM) has significantly expanded its activities, and it can now be called a whole technological education institute.

Let’s trace the timeline of the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad from its inception:-

• At the XVII session, the Indian National Congress passed a resolution declaring that they thought that a Government College of Mining Engineering should be established in some suitable place in India.

• This institute was to be modelled on the Royal School of Mines in England, the Mining Colleges of Japan and other places in the continent. Given the pattern of the recent legislation, namely, The Indian Mines Act VII of 1901, to keep all Indian mines under the supervision of mining experts. 

• The McPherson Committee, constituted by the Government of British India, published a report suggesting the construction of an institution to offer education in mining and geology.

• The Association of the Indian Mine Managers petitioned the government to implement the McPherson committee’s report.

• On December 9, 1926, the then-Viceroy Lord Irwin established the Indian School of Mines and Applied Geology in Dhanbad in response to recurring demands for the establishment of such an institute.

• The institute’s overall work began with Dr David Penman as its founder-principal. The institute, when it was established, only offered courses in Mining Engineering and Applied Geology.

• The institute started teaching Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics. This name was changed to ‘Indian School of Mines (ISM).’

• The faculty recruitment process was drastically changed in 1967, with the old system of selecting faculty members through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) being discontinued.

• The school was accorded ‘university status’ by the University Grants Commission under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act of 1956.

• The Institute began accepting students to its offered courses through the IIT Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE), which is jointly conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and the Indian School of Mines (ISM).

• New courses in computer science and engineering were introduced during this period.

• The Indian School of Mines (ISM)’s long run came to an end on September 6, 2016, when it was designated as an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

(Source of Information:- IIT (ISM) Dhanbad)

The transformation into an IIT amplified the institute’s past. Unlike the other institutes, which had built identity post-rebranding, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad carried nearly 90 years of academic credibility into its new chapter.

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