Its not the institute that matters but the interest of a person for pursuing his interest. I am from one of the NIT and I have witnessed it first hand. After first year Undergraduate while my friends at other institutes were trying to figure out what does internship means I have authored 2 research paper (first author) and soon my work was also published in a reputed journal. This helped me have a kick start, yes as others on this thread have suggested NITs don’t have the best research facilities hence for 2nd year internship I went to IIT Madras Process control laboratory and worked under one of the best professors in the feild.
Research is not about what your institute is having but how your institute can collaborate to the platform you need and at NITs you can get all opportunities you need.
If you have the higgest CGPA in your branch you are given full funded internship abroad, if you got your research selected for publication in Australia believe me the institutes pays the complete fair for your trip.
Its better to be at IIT but if you have missed the opportunity don’t be disheartened and follow the path you like, develop contacts, have a mentor who has walked through the same path and can help you, success will be yours.