The government of India has given nod to set up eight new IITs in the country at a cost of Rs6080 crore. The total numbers of IITs will be 16 in India following this announcement. These new Indian Institutes of Technology will be opened in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The academic session for these institutes is likely to come up during current session. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat will start their session with 120 students each in temporary campuses.

After the meeting of union cabinet, finance minister P Chidambaram said that the Institute of Technology of Benaras Hindu University will be converted to an IIT. About three lakh students appear in the Joint Entrance Examination to get admission in these technology institutes and only 2 per cent are selected as per number of seats available. These new IITs will boost technical and quality education in the county and more brilliant students can access technical education.

Cabinet has also approved a director and registrar for each IIT and raised the grade of all existing IIT directors to Rs26000 (fixed) from Rs25000.
The cabinet under the chairmanship PM Dr. Manmohan Singh also approved funds for geo-stationary satellites besides approving PM's 15-point program for the welfare of minorities. The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Bill, 2005 to check trade of spurious drugs in the country.