Institutes of National Importance

In India, Institute of National Importance (INI) is a status that may be conferred on a premier public higher education institution by an act of the Parliament of India for such institutions which, "serve as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country or state." Institutes of National Importance receive special recognition, higher autonomy, and direct funding from the Government of India. Some of India's highest ranked universities, including all of the IITs, AIIMSs and IIMs, have this status.

Architecture
The Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPA) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the 'School of Planning and Architecture Act, 2014' and its subsequent amendments.

Design

 * National Institutes of Design (NID) are declared as an Institution of National Importance through the 'National Institute of Design Act 2014' and its subsequent amendments.
 * Footwear Design and Development Institute comprising 12 campuses is declared as an Institution of National Importance through the 'FDDI Act 2017'.

Engineering and Technology

 * Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 and its subsequent amendments.
 * National Institutes of Technology (NIT), IIEST Shibpur are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research Act, 2007 and its subsequent amendments.
 * Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the 'Indian Institute of Information Technology Act, 2014' and the 'Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act, 2017' and their subsequent amendments.

Food Technology
National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K) and National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T) are declared Institutes of National Importance through the National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Act, 2021.

Management
Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017 and its subsequent amendments.

Medicine
All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the 'All India Institute of Medical Sciences Act, 1956' and its subsequent amendments.

Pharmacy
National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the 'National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998' and its subsequent amendments.

Science
Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) are Institutes of National Importance through the amendments in the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research Act, 2007.

Summary statistics
As of June 2024, there are 171 Institutes of National Importance under various Acts of Parliament. These INIs include: 23 IITs, 20 AIIMSs, 21 IIMs, 31 NITs, 25 IIITs, 7 IISERs, 7 NIPERs, 5 NIDs, 3 SPAs, 2 NIFTEMs, 10 Central universities, 4 Medical research institutes, and 13 other specialized institutes.

Proposed Institutes of National Importance (INIs)
The following institutes have been proposed as INIs through a bill:
 * Armed Forces Medical College
 * National Council of Educational Research and Training
 * Homi Bhabha National Institute
 * Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
 * Indian Institute of Forest Management
 * Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology