The number of engineering college closures in India continues to grow, with 58 engineering and technical institutions closing by 2025-26. The shutdowns span several states, led by Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, and reflect a pattern the regulator says is linked to low student intakes, teacher shortages and non-compliance with prescribed norms.The Indian Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the country’s technical education regulator, has approved what it calls a “progressive closure” of these institutions. This means that they will not be able to admit first-year students for the academic year, but students already enrolled will be able to complete their courses.“A total of 58 engineering and technical colleges were phased out during the academic year 2025-26. The phased closure means that the institute cannot admit students in the first year during the academic year for which the phased closure is granted. However, the existing students will continue,” said a senior AICTE official. PTI.
What does rolling closure mean?
Unlike full closure, gradual closure does not immediately close an institution. Instead, admissions will stop for new students while existing batches continue until they graduate.According to AICTE, complete closure is different because courses are completely disrupted and affected students are transferred to other institutions.The regulator said it follows this approach to avoid disrupting the education of students already pursuing their studies.
Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra record the highest closures
The closures were spread across several states, with Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra recording the highest number at 12 institutions each.
| status | Schools closed |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 12 |
| Maharashtra | 12 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 8 |
| Telangana | 4 |
| Punjab | 4 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 3 |
| Rajasthan | 3 |
| Gujarat | 2 |
| Karnataka | 2 |
| Tamil Nadu | 2 |
| Haryana | 1 |
| Odisha | 1 |
| Uttarakhand | 1 |
| West Bengal | 1 |
Among the 58 institutions, only three received public aid, while the rest of the colleges were privately funded, according to information shared with PTI.
More than 950 courses were also suspended
The closures have also affected academic programs offered by technical institutions.“More than 950 courses offered in technical and engineering colleges across the country were also closed during the period,” the AICTE official said. PTI.The suspension of courses adds to the decline in the number of programs available at some institutions, particularly where admissions have remained low for successive years.
Why AICTE orders closures
According to AICTE, institutions can be closed for various reasons, including low intake of students, inability to maintain the required number of teachers and non-fulfillment of infrastructural and operational requirements.The regulator oversees technical education in institutions of engineering, architecture, management and pharmacy, and is responsible for maintaining academic standards and regulating approvals.The latest closures suggest that many institutions continue to face challenges in attracting students and meeting regulatory requirements. While colleges approved for phase-out will continue to teach their existing batches, they will stop admitting new students, phasing out their operations. PTI reports