342 technical institutes closed in the past three academic years. The closures occurred across AICTE-approved institutions nationwide. This data was released by the Ministry of State for Education in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Institution Closures Rise
The number of technical institutions closing has increased annually. In the 2024 approval cycle, 83 institutions shut down. This rose to 124 institutions in the 2025 cycle. The highest number, 135, closed in the 2026 cycle.
Maharashtra reported the most closures with 57 institutions. Uttar Pradesh followed with 54, and Madhya Pradesh with 53. Other states with significant closures include Tamil Nadu (45), Gujarat (22), and Punjab (19).
Student Enrollment Continues to Grow
Despite the closures, student enrollment in technical courses has steadily increased. In the 2023-24 academic year, 2,211,504 students enrolled. This figure rose to 2,725,980 in 2024-25. Enrollment reached 2,958,870 in 2025-26.
The Ministry did not link institutional closures directly to student demand. Reasons for closure were not specified institution-by-institution. However, AICTE allows institutions to apply for voluntary closure under existing regulations.
Government Initiatives for Technical Education
The government is implementing measures to improve technical institutes. Colleges can now reduce seats or discontinue underperforming courses. They are also encouraged to offer new programs in high-demand fields.
AICTE updates its Approval Process Handbook regularly. These updates simplify rules and promote innovation. Focus areas include industry collaboration, internships, and skill development. Online processes are enhancing transparency in approvals.
These steps aim to ensure institutions remain relevant. They also seek to boost quality and long-term sustainability in technical education.
