RURUKELA: The National Institute of Technology, Rourkela (NIT-R) will introduce four new academic programs from the 2026-27 academic session with the aim of meeting India’s growing demand for skilled professionals in emerging fields such as semiconductors, quantum technology, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
The institute plans to launch B Tech programs in Mathematics and Computing and Engineering Physics, along with MTech programs in Semiconductor Devices and Technology, Machine Learning and Signal Analysis.
Officials said these courses aim to prepare students for opportunities in India’s deep technology and knowledge economy, while supporting national priority areas such as digital transformation, semiconductor ecosystem development, AI-driven innovation and advanced scientific research.
Professor Ashok Kumar Tulku, Dean, NIT-Rourkela, said the program is in line with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, flexibility, skill integration and research-oriented education.
“Subjects such as physics and mathematics should no longer be viewed solely through the lens of theory, but as foundational subjects that drive emerging technologies and industrial transformation. These programs represent an important step in building a future-ready workforce for India’s growing deep technology and knowledge economy,” he said.
According to the institute, 25 students will be admitted through JEE Mains to the BTech program in Mathematics and Computing offered by the Department of Mathematics. The curriculum combines mathematics, computing, and data science with subjects such as data structures and algorithms, theory of computation, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cryptography, numerical analysis, and statistical modeling.
