Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, also referred to as NIT, Nagpur, (formerly known as Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering (VRCE), Nagpur) is one of the first six Regional Engineering Colleges established under the scheme sponsored by the government of India and the Maharashtra State Government. The NIT Act passed by the parliament in 2007 declares it as an "Institute of National Importance" for India. The college was established in June 1960 and named after the engineer, planner and statesman of the country Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya. Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology(VNIT) is one of the 20 National Institutes of Technology Regional Engineering Colleges established by the Indian government. It imparts engineering and scientific education in eight undergraduate, 11 graduate programmes and numerous other research programmes. Undergraduate programs lead to B.Tech. degrees, while graduate students and postgraduate students earn M.Tech. and Ph.D. degrees respectively. VNIT has an architecture school awarding the B.Arch. and M.Arch. degrees. VNIT will mentor NIT Mizoram for the academic year 2010-2011.