Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur owes its origin to the erstwhile
Bengal Engineering College, the history of which goes to the nineteenth century when industries
in the sense we understand today, were practically absent. Prompted by the idea of meeting
requirement of trained engineering personnel for the Public Works Department, the then council
of Education, Bengal, decided to open Civil Engineering classes and a Professorship in Civil
Engineering was created at Hindu College, Calcutta, in the year 1843-44. A College of
Engineering was started by the name of Civil Engineering College on 24th November, 1856, in
the premises of the Writers Building, Calcutta.
With the establishment of Calcutta University on January 24, 1857, the college was affiliated to
this university in May 1857. The first-degree examination in Bachelors of Civil Engineering was
held in 1864 in which only 2 students graduated. In 1865, the college merged with Presidency
College, Calcutta and from 1865 to 1869 the college functioned as the Civil Engineering
Department of Presidency College. In 1880, the college was shifted to its present campus at
Shibpur, Howrah, and was christened the 'Government College, Howrah,' in the premises of
Bishop's College. It started imparting training in Civil as well as Mechanical Engineering. The
college became wholly residential from the year 1889.
In 1921, the name of the college was changed to 'Bengal Engineering College' (popularly known
as B.E.College). During 1921-43, the various departments of the college were reorganized on the
recommendation of the 'Mukherjee Committee' under the Chairmanship of Sir R.N. Mukherjee,
one of the most distinguished ex-students of the college. The first batch of students in
Mechanical Engineering appeared in the degree examination in 1932. The degree course in
Electrical Engineering was introduced during 1935-36 and that in Metallurgical Engineering in
1939. The department of Humanities started in 1945, Applied Mechanics in 1947, and
In 1954, postgraduate courses in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Metallurgical were
introduced. A postgraduate certificate course in Naval Architecture was also introduced during
this period. Doctoral programs were also introduced at this time and approved by Calcutta
University to enhance research activities (which started as far back as 1901) in the college.
During 1954-55, an agreement was concluded by this college and the University of Wisconsin,
USA, whereby six guest professors from the USA joined the college and in exchange, five
teachers from the college went to the USA as Research Associate. This scheme, known as
Technical Co-operation Programme of the USA, helped the college in developing laboratories,
postgraduate programmes and research facilities.
The college celebrated its gala centenary function inaugurated by Dr. B.C. Roy on the 25th of
December 1956 and Pandit Jawarlal Nehru graced concluding session on 14th January 1957. The
department of Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering was sanctioned in 1956. The
department of Mining Engineering started functioning in 1956. The introduction of a Teachers'
Training course during 1959-60 was a noteworthy event. The college started its first Computer
Centre in 1976-77 and a Microprocessor Laboratory in this centre in 1979. The 125th
Anniversary of the college was celebrated in December 11, 1981, with inauguration by Sri N.
Sanjiva Reddy, the then President of India.
In 1982, a new degree course in Computer Science & Technology was started and with
modernization of the facilities, this department started offering the Master of Engineering
courses in 1988 and Master of Computer Applications courses in 1991.
The alumni of the college have occupied or are occupying top positions in various national and
international organizations. In recognition of its yeoman's service to the nation for 143 years of
its existence with its well organized infrastructure, the college was elevated to the status of a
"Deemed University" in 1992 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of
India on the recommendation of a UGC Expert Committee. As a result, Dr. SankarDayal
Sharma, the President of India, inaugurated the University in March 1993.
In 2004, B.E. College (Deemed University) was converted into a full-fledged university by an
act in the West Bengal Assembly and renamed as Bengal Engineering and Science University,
Shibpur. In addition to the tradition engineering disciplines, the university started M.Sc
curriculum in basic sciences.
In March 2014, Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur was taken over by the
Government of India and converted into an Institute of National Importance through an act of
parliament and renamed as Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur.
THE SECOND OLDEST ENGINEERING COLLEGE IN INDIA
The Roorkee Engineering College established in the year 1847 AD and recognized as the first
Engineering College in India. The Government Engineering College, Pune established in the
year 1854. The Bengal Engineering College established in the year 1856. The first batch of
degree course in Civil Engineering turned out in 1912 from Pune Engineering College whereas
the first batch in Civil Engineering passed out from B.E.College, in@the year 1864. Therefore, if
we consider the year of establishment the B.E.College will be the third engineering college in
India. However, considering the year of graduation our B.E.College stands as the 2nd oldest
Engineering College in India.
Roorkee College was Establish in 1847 AD as the first Engineering College in the British
Empire. The College was renamed as THOMASON COLLEGE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING in
1854. It was given the status of a University by Act No. IX of 1948 of U.P., Govt. in recognition
of its performance and its potential and keeping in view the needs of post-independent INDIA.Pt.
JawaharLal Nehru, the first Prime Minester of India, presented the Charter in November 1949
elevating the erstwhile college to the first Engineering University of independent India."
