National Institute of Technology Karnataka is a public engineering college along the western shores of India. It was founded in 1960. Today, it is one of the 30 NITs in India and is recognized as an Institute of National Importance. The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal is one of the top technological universities in India. Since its inception in 1960 as the Karnataka Regional Engineering College, the Institute has established itself as a premier center engaged in imparting quality technological education. The Institute has supported research in both traditional and modern areas of engineering and sciences for several decades. 1960 August 6th, Foundation stone laid for the college. Commencement of under-graduate courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering affiliated to Mysore University. NITK is rated as the best NIT among all NITs, and has the best industry interface among all college of India,due to it being situated in Karnataka,near Bangalore(Silicon Valley Of India). NITK was ranked #8 on the India Today Best Engineering Colleges 2012, #13 on the Outlook India Top Engineering Colleges of 2012 and #9 on the Dataquest Top Engineering Colleges in India of 2010.