The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) is located in Roorkee, a township in Uttarakhand, India. Instituted as Thomason college of Civil Engineering in year 1847 by British, it was rechristened as University of Roorkee in year 1949. Prior to independence, it awarded the degrees of the University of Calcutta and the Allahabad University, to which it was successively affiliated, followed by its own diplomas. It was restructured in 1948 as the University of Roorkee, as the first engineering university of modern India. History of Institute The College was established in year 1847 as the first engineering college in the British Empire. The College was renamed as The Thomason College of Civil Engineering in 1854. It was given the status of University by Act No. IX of 1948 of the United Province (Uttar Pradesh) in recognition of its performance, potential and keeping in view the needs of post-independent India. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, presented the Charter in November 1949, elevating the erstwhile college to the First Engineering University of Independent India. Since its establishment, the University has played a vital role in providing the technical manpower, know-how and pursuit of research to the country. It ranks among the top technological institutions in the world and has contributed to all sectors of technological development. Before becoming an IIT, University of Roorkee was ranked 14th best in Asia by Asiaweek in 2000 (Behind only the IITs among Indian Universities and Institutes).