58 engineering colleges shut down across India: Which states were hit the most?

The AICTE progressively closed 58 engineering and technical colleges during the 2025–26 academic year, with Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra recording the highest closures. Existing students can complete their degrees, while low enrolment, faculty shortages, and rule violations were cited as key reasons.

In Short

• 58 engineering colleges closed in 2025-26 academic year
• Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra top with 12 closures each
• Existing students allowed to complete their degrees

More than 55 engineering colleges across the country were closed during the 2025–26 academic year for various reasons, according to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). However, the council has clarified that students already enrolled in these institutions will be allowed to complete their degree programmes.

“A total of 58 engineering and technical colleges were closed progressively during 2025-26. Progressive closure means institute cannot admit the students for the first year during the academic year for which progressive closure is granted. However, the existing students will continue,” a senior AICTE official said.

STATES WITH THE HIGHEST CLOSURES

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the statutory national regulator for technical education in India, oversees programmes in engineering, architecture, management, and pharmacy to ensure quality, maintain academic standards, and promote coordinated development across the sector.

Of the 58 institutions that were shut down, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra recorded the highest number of closures, with 12 colleges each. They were followed by Madhya Pradesh with eight closures, while Telangana and Punjab reported four each.

Three engineering colleges each in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, were closed during the academic year. Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal recorded two closures each, while one institution in Puducherry was also shut down. Of the 58 institutions, three were government-aided, while the remaining were privately financed.

“Over 950 courses being offered in technical and engineering colleges across the country were also closed during the period,” the official added.

WHY AICTE ORDERS COLLEGE CLOSURES

The AICTE distinguishes between progressive closure, under which institutions are phased out gradually while allowing currently enrolled students to complete their studies, and complete closure, where programmes are discontinued entirely and affected students are transferred to other institutions.

According to the AICTE, institutions may be ordered to shut down for several reasons, including low student enrolment, failure to maintain the required faculty strength, and non-compliance with prescribed infrastructure and operational norms, among other factors.

(With inputs from PTI)

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