The Indian Society for Technical Education is a national, professional, non-profit making Society registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. First started in 1941 as the Association of Principals of Technical institutions (ATPI), it was converted into "Indian Society for Technical Education" in 1968 with a view to enlarge its activities to advance the cause of technological education.
Being the only national organisation of educator in the field of engineering and technology, ISTE is being represented in the various Technical Committees and Boards formed by the Central Government. The ministry of Human Resource Development, AICTE/DoE/State Govts. have also been involving the ISTE in many of their important programmes and activities relating to technical education.