The Indian Institute of Technology Mandi is one among the eighth newer second generation of IITs. IIT Mandi is a research university now located in Kamand Valley, Mandi city in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.
IIT Mandi's campus (about 14 km from Mandi) is on the left bank of the Uhl River at Kamand and Salgi villages. There is great variation in the climatic conditions of Himachal due to extreme variation in elevation. The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical in the southern tracts to cold, alpine and glacial in the northern and eastern mountain ranges with more elevation.
Mandi has an average elevation of 1044 meters (3425 feet) and is situated on the banks of Beas. Mandi town falls in the lower most climatic zone of the Himalayas. These regions enjoys a wet-sub temperate climate of the foot hills (450-900 meters) as against the dry-cold alpine climate with snowfall at higher altitudes (2400-4800 meters). Average annual rainfall of Mandi is 1380 mm.
Since its inception the institute has been involved with various Research and Development (R&D) projects, the institute has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with many International and National universities, Companies, Research Centres, Organizations.
The institute became an IIT under The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 2011, with the intention to expand the reach and to enhance the quality of technical education in the country. The Act was passed in the Lok Sabha on 24 March 2011 and by the Rajya Sabha on 30 April 2012.