ModestoMolino5 at 10:04, 31 March 2026

2026-03-31T10:04:36Z

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{{Short description|Food technology governmental institute}}
[[File:Gemini Generated Image duf06wduf06wduf0 (1).png|thumb]]
The '''National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management''' ('''NIFTEMs''') are specialised higher education [[Institutes of National Importance]] (INI) in India dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and skilled manpower development in the field of food processing, technology, and allied sectors. These institutes operate under the administrative control of the [[Ministry of Food Processing Industries]] (MoFPI) by the government of India.

There are currently two operational NIFTEMs, the [[National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management]] (NIFTEM-K) located in [[Kundli]], [[Haryana]] and the [[National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur]] (NIFTEM-T) located in [[Thanjavur]], [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite web |date=1 October 2021 |title=Two National Food Technology Institutes functioning under Ministry of Food Processing Industries |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1763456 |access-date=15 August 2025 |website=Press Information Bureau |publisher=Government of India}}</ref>

Both institutions were established to strengthen India’s food processing sector by integrating education, research, entrepreneurship, and industry linkages.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=August 11, 2025 |title=NIFTEM & CFTRI at the forefront of academic excellence in food processing & technology |url=https://www.fnbnews.com/Top-News/niftem--cftri-at-the-forefront-of-academic-excellence-in-food-processing--technology-84487 |work=Food & Business News |access-date=August 15, 2025}}</ref> Though criticisms of the establishment of the NIFTEM's were made by the Parliamentary committee on agriculture in 2016 due to the increase in costs to facilitate the institutes and their time overrun on producing outputs. The committee argued that the [[Institute of Crop Processing Technology]] already accomplished the aims of the new institutions.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=May 18, 2016 |title=Panel questions move to set up food technology institute |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/panel-questions-move-to-set-up-food-technology-institute/article5681102.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=August 15, 2025}}</ref>

==History==
===Institute of National Importance status===
On 1 October 2021, the [[National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Act, 2021]] came into effect, granting INI status to both of the existing NIFTEMs. This designation, conferred by an [[Act of Parliament]], recognises their critical role in developing highly skilled professionals, offering greater academic and administrative autonomy, and enabling direct central government funding. In India, an Institute of National Importance is a premier public higher education institution acknowledged for its strategic role in national development within a specific sector or discipline.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 September 2021 |title=National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Act, 2021 |url=https://legislative.gov.in/actsofparliamentfromtheyear/national-institutes-food-technology-entrepreneurship-and-management-act |access-date=15 August 2025 |website=Legislative Department |publisher=Ministry of Law and Justice}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |date=July 26, 2021 |title=Lok Sabha passes NIFTEM bill: Paras says, historic day for NIFTEM, IIFPT |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/english/bharat/lok-sabha-passes-niftem-bill-paras-says-historic-day-for-niftem-iifpt/na20210726215700381 |work=[[ETV Bharat News]] |access-date=August 15, 2025}}</ref>

===Role and expansion plans===
NIFTEM-K and NIFTEM-T focus on producing industry-ready graduates and postgraduates for the [[Food processing|food processing and allied industries]].<ref name="Bihar"/> To accommodate increasing demand, both institutes have expanded their sanctioned student intake. In addition, the [[Ministry of Food Processing Industries]] supports several other [[Centrally Funded Technical Institutes|centrally funded]] institutions, state universities, and private institutions offering degrees and research programmes in food technology and its specializations. With this funding, the Ministry also uses the NIFTEM to promote new food technology startup companies by entrepreneurs, hosting monetary challenges and conferences through the institutes.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=August 3, 2024 |title=38 Food Tech Startups Thrive Under MoFPI's Visionary Support Program |url=https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/sectors/38-food-tech-startups-thrive-under-mofpis-visionary-support-program |work=[[Knowledge and News Network]] |access-date=August 15, 2025}}</ref>

In 2022, it was proposed by the union food processing minister [[Pashupati Kumar Paras]] that the Indian government should establish a third National Food Technology Institute in [[Bihar]], to be named NIFTEM-Bihar.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tripathi |first=Piyush |date=July 8, 2022 |title=Union minister proposes to set up National Institute of Food |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/union-minister-proposes-to-set-up-national-institute-of-food-technology-entrepreneurship-and-management-in-bihar/articleshow/92752381.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=August 15, 2025}}</ref> As part of its 2025 budget proposals, the Indian government officially announced plans to create the new institute, which is expected to further boost research and training capacity in the eastern region of the country.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 February 2025 |title=Union Budget 2025-26: Key Provisions for Food Processing Sector |url=https://www.indiabudget.gov.in |access-date=15 August 2025 |website=Union Budget |publisher=Government of India}}</ref> Bihar was chosen due to its high quality food production such as [[lychee]] and [[honey]] foodstuffs, but the area also lacks food quality testing labs, which the NIFTEM would fill the role for.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=February 3, 2025 |title=Proposal for NIFTEM in Patna to Boost Agriculture and Economy |url=https://patnapress.com/proposal-for-niftem-in-patna-to-boost-agriculture-and-economy/ |work=Patna Press |access-date=August 15, 2025}}</ref> An evaluation of the region by MoFPI officials began in April 2025 to determine the right location to establish the institute.<ref name="Bihar">{{cite news |last=Bishnoi |first=Kamakshi |date=April 9, 2025 |title=Centre Evaluates Bihar For National Food Tech Institute, Focus On Boosting Processing Sector |url=https://www.thedailyjagran.com/bihar/centre-evaluates-bihar-for-national-food-tech-institute-focus-on-boosting-processing-sector-details-10229326 |work=[[The Daily Jagran]] |access-date=August 15, 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord missing|India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Food Technology Institutes}}
[[Category:Universities and colleges in India]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 2021]]
[[Category:Higher education in India]]
[[Category:Engineering universities and colleges in India]]
[[Category:Food science institutes]]
[[Category:Ministry of Food Processing Industries]]

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National Food Technology Institutes - Revision history

ModestoMolino5 at 10:04, 31 March 2026