Government Polytechnic Nirsa, Dhanbad, formerly Mining Institute, Dhanbad was established in the year 1958 by the state govt. to cater the needs of mining and mineral industries in respect of technicians and supervisors. As North Chhotanagpur division particularly Dhanbad and Giridih, predominately mines and mineral rich region of undivided Bihar, has a large number of Coal Companies.Dhanbad having better communication facilities has been selected for setting up of this institute, although one Mining Institute namely Mining Institute Bhaga was there in this region.Initially, this institute has only one branch of Engineering namely Mining.

Initially, this institute has only one branch of Engineering namely Mining. As such it has got lesser attention of the state govt. while implementing strengthening of polytechnics project under the world bank assistance in mid – nineties. However Civil works like new instruction building, residential quarters and water supply system were built under this project. Also a new branch of engineering namely Open Cast Mining was also sanctioned for this institute which was letter on closed on account of statutory considerations.

In 1999 – 2000, like other institute, IT branch for this institute too was sanctioned. However before sanction neither the post of faculty and technical supporting staffs nor requisite infrastructure facilities required to run the program were created.

In the year 2006 – 2007, three more branches of engineering namely computer Science Engg., Civil and Mechanical were sanctioned under the same condition as stated is preceding Para. However at present the sanction of I.T. and Computer Science branches did not get extension from AICTE. Presently AICTE approved courses in the streams of Mining, Mechanical and Civil engineering are running in this institute.