Iit Mandi Director Recruitment: IIT Mandi Director recruitment 2026: Education Ministry invites applications, ₹2.25 lakh monthly salary on offer; check eligibility and deadline
The Ministry of Education has initiated the process to appoint a new Director for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, inviting applications from accomplished academicians and administrators with a strong record in teaching, research, and institutional leadership.The appointment process comes ahead of the end of the tenure of IIT Mandi’s current Director, Laxmidhar Behera, whose term is scheduled to conclude in December 2026. The selected candidate will head one of India’s premier technical institutions and will be appointed on a contractual basis for a period of five years or until attaining the age of 70 years, whichever comes earlier.
Search-cum-Selection Committee to recommend candidates
According to the official notice issued by the Ministry of Education, IIT Mandi is an autonomous institution fully funded by the Government of India through the Ministry of Education.The appointment of the Director will be made after approval from the Competent Authority, based on recommendations of the Search-cum-Selection Committee. The committee will consider applications submitted in response to the advertisement as well as nominations received from eminent individuals.The recruitment process has opened an important opportunity for senior academicians and institutional leaders with experience in higher education and technical research to take charge of the Himalayan institute.
Who can apply for the post?
The Ministry has laid down stringent eligibility conditions for candidates aspiring to lead IIT Mandi.Applicants are expected to possess a PhD with a first-class or equivalent qualification in the preceding degree, preferably in an Engineering discipline. However, the Ministry has indicated that candidates from Science, Mathematics and Management backgrounds may also be considered in exceptional cases.Candidates must also have an outstanding academic record throughout their career. They should have at least 10 years of teaching experience as a Professor at a reputed Engineering or Technology Institute or University and must have experience guiding PhD scholars.Apart from academic credentials, the Ministry has placed considerable emphasis on administrative experience and leadership. Applicants are expected to have at least five years of administrative experience along with demonstrated leadership capabilities.The applicant should preferably be below 60 years of age on the last date for submission of applications.
₹2.25 lakh monthly salary for selected Director
The candidate selected for the top position at IIT Mandi will receive a revised monthly salary of ₹2,25,000, in addition to allowances admissible under government rules.The Director’s role will involve providing academic and administrative leadership to the institution while steering its research, innovation, industry collaboration and long-term institutional development.Applicants will also be expected to demonstrate their understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing higher technical education.
Applicants must submit vision statement and justification
The Ministry has asked interested candidates to submit a detailed application in the prescribed format along with several supporting documents.Applicants must clearly outline their achievements in research, teaching, industry-academia collaborations and administration. They must also submit a two-page justification supporting their candidature and a separate two-page vision statement outlining their plans for the institution.In addition, candidates must provide the contact details of at least two distinguished individuals who are well acquainted with their professional work.
How to apply for IIT Mandi Director post
The application, typed in the prescribed format along with the required enclosures, must be sent through Registered Post or Speed Post to the Ministry of Education.The application should be addressed to:The Under Secretary (TS.1)Department of Higher EducationMinistry of EducationH-01, Work Hall No. 21108, First FloorKartavya Bhawan – 2New Delhi – 110001Applications must reach the Ministry on or before October 31, 2026.Candidates currently employed in government departments, autonomous organisations or public sector undertakings are required to submit their applications through the proper channel. They may also send an advance copy to the Ministry.The envelope containing the application must carry the words “APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF DIRECTOR, IIT MANDI” prominently in bold.Applicants are also required to send one electronic copy of the application, preferably in MS Word format, to the email address specified by the Ministry.
Appointment process begins ahead of change in IIT Mandi leadership
The notification sets in motion the process of selecting the next academic leader of IIT Mandi months before the completion of the incumbent Director’s tenure in December.The advertisement was issued before controversy surrounding an inappropriate poster involving the institution emerged. The Ministry’s recruitment process, however, is focused on identifying a candidate with a distinguished academic background, proven administrative experience and the ability to provide strategic leadership to one of the country’s leading IITs.With the October 31 deadline now in place, the search for IIT Mandi’s next Director has formally begun, with the Ministry looking for an academic leader capable of shaping the institution’s next phase of growth and strengthening its position in India’s expanding higher education and research ecosystem.
