The National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, India (formerly the Regional Engineering College (REC), Durgapur), was established under an Act of the Parliament of India in 1960 as one of the eight RECs. It is a fully funded technological institution of the government of India and is administered by an autonomous Board of Governors. In 2010, NIT-Durgapur celebrated its Golden Jubilee (completing 50 years). The institute is one of the 14 RECs established between 1959 and 1965. In August 2007 NIT Durgapur was declared an Institute of National Importance under the NIT Act(before 2005 it was controlled by Burdwan University), and thus enabling it and other NITs to become centres of excellence like IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology). It is the first institute in Eastern India to be selected as a Lead Institute under the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) of the government of India funded by the World Bank. The students and faculty conduct research and collaborate with international and national universities, research centers and laboratories.