At its 14th convocation ceremony, IIT Gandhinagar awards degrees to 668 students – its largest graduating cohort so far
As many as 668 students were awarded their degrees – the highest number in the history of the institution – as the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) held the convocation ceremony of its 'largest graduating class' at Mahatma Mandir on Saturday. In another record, 111 Ph D degrees were awarded to students at the institute's 14th convocation ceremony.
While reflecting on his professional journey and leadership experience, chief guest Aditya Ghosh, the co-founder of Akasa Air, highlighted India's economic growth and opportunities, emphasising the importance of pursuing passion, building trust, and lifelong learning.
He stressed the need for 'a growth mindset, challenging status quo, and integrating sustainability into all endeavours while underscoring the importance of humility, continuous improvement, and choosing the right role models'. He encouraged the graduates to focus on 'internal risks like complacency and arrogance, to view setbacks as learning opportunities, and to strive for impactful success, measured by the lives they influence positively'.
'Our biggest auditor is the person staring back at us from the mirror,' he noted, emphasising the importance of self-reflection and inner accountability. He gave the graduating class a powerful call to lead lives full of purpose, integrity, and continuous self-improvement, urging them to measure success not by wealth or titles, but by the positive impact they make in the lives of others.
This spirit of thoughtful leadership and service was also reflected in the address of Sanjiv Puri, the Chairman of IITGN's Board of Governors. Drawing on his experience as Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited, and as a national business leader, he urged students to take pride in their achievements and approach the next chapter of their lives with confidence and purpose. He motivated the graduates to lead with humility and contribute to building a more equitable and sustainable world.
At the event, Director's Gold Medal and the President's Gold Medal, two of the Institute's highest recognitions for academic and leadership excellence, were also awarded. Falak Vats received the Director's Gold Medal for PhD, while Hemant Poonia was awarded the Director's Gold Medal for M Tech. Aayushi Jain and Adit Atul Rambhia were recognised with the award for M Sc and MA programmes, and B Tech programme, respectively.
The President's Gold Medal was presented to Vala Kiritkumar Hemrajbhai (M Tech), Mohan Murlidhar Tiratkar (M Sc and MA), and Mithil Pechimuthu (B Tech) in recognition of their exceptional academic excellence, leadership qualities, and contributions to IITGN.
The institute conferred the Gold Medal for Outstanding Research to four students, 20 Institute Gold Medals to academic toppers from each graduating batch, one award for Outstanding Leadership, and 14 Commendation Awards for exceptional performance in areas such as sports, entrepreneurship, student initiatives, arts and culture, and social service, reflecting IITGN's 'commitment to holistic development and excellence beyond the classroom'.
Highlighting the academic and research progress of IITGN, Prof Rajat Moona, the institute's Director, said that a new B Tech programme in Integrated Circuit Design and Technology has been launched, alongside a major curriculum reform that enables B Tech students to pursue their 7th semester off-campus, engaging in internships, research projects, entrepreneurial ventures, or academic collaborations.
He spoke of IITGN-X, the Institute's education outreach unit, which has conducted two e-Master's degree programmes in Energy Policy and Regulation and Data Science for Decision Making, and is scheduled to launch a new programme, Applications of Machine Learning in Engineering, in August this year. Two new academic programmes, Master of Design and the Professional Leader's PhD, were approved, alongside ongoing dual-degree collaborations with Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Japan) and Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand).
Beside 111 Ph D scholars, the graduating class of 2025 comprised 141 M Tech students, 135 M Sc students, 36 MA students, 12 PGDIIT students, seven B Tech Dual Major students, 5 B Sc Engineering students, and 221 B Tech students.
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Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
At its 14th convocation ceremony, IIT Gandhinagar awards degrees to 668 students – its largest graduating cohort so far
As many as 668 students were awarded their degrees – the highest number in the history of the institution – as the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) held the convocation ceremony of its 'largest graduating class' at Mahatma Mandir on Saturday. In another record, 111 Ph D degrees were awarded to students at the institute's 14th convocation ceremony. While reflecting on his professional journey and leadership experience, chief guest Aditya Ghosh, the co-founder of Akasa Air, highlighted India's economic growth and opportunities, emphasising the importance of pursuing passion, building trust, and lifelong learning. He stressed the need for 'a growth mindset, challenging status quo, and integrating sustainability into all endeavours while underscoring the importance of humility, continuous improvement, and choosing the right role models'. He encouraged the graduates to focus on 'internal risks like complacency and arrogance, to view setbacks as learning opportunities, and to strive for impactful success, measured by the lives they influence positively'. 'Our biggest auditor is the person staring back at us from the mirror,' he noted, emphasising the importance of self-reflection and inner accountability. He gave the graduating class a powerful call to lead lives full of purpose, integrity, and continuous self-improvement, urging them to measure success not by wealth or titles, but by the positive impact they make in the lives of others. This spirit of thoughtful leadership and service was also reflected in the address of Sanjiv Puri, the Chairman of IITGN's Board of Governors. Drawing on his experience as Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited, and as a national business leader, he urged students to take pride in their achievements and approach the next chapter of their lives with confidence and purpose. He motivated the graduates to lead with humility and contribute to building a more equitable and sustainable world. At the event, Director's Gold Medal and the President's Gold Medal, two of the Institute's highest recognitions for academic and leadership excellence, were also awarded. Falak Vats received the Director's Gold Medal for PhD, while Hemant Poonia was awarded the Director's Gold Medal for M Tech. Aayushi Jain and Adit Atul Rambhia were recognised with the award for M Sc and MA programmes, and B Tech programme, respectively. The President's Gold Medal was presented to Vala Kiritkumar Hemrajbhai (M Tech), Mohan Murlidhar Tiratkar (M Sc and MA), and Mithil Pechimuthu (B Tech) in recognition of their exceptional academic excellence, leadership qualities, and contributions to IITGN. The institute conferred the Gold Medal for Outstanding Research to four students, 20 Institute Gold Medals to academic toppers from each graduating batch, one award for Outstanding Leadership, and 14 Commendation Awards for exceptional performance in areas such as sports, entrepreneurship, student initiatives, arts and culture, and social service, reflecting IITGN's 'commitment to holistic development and excellence beyond the classroom'. Highlighting the academic and research progress of IITGN, Prof Rajat Moona, the institute's Director, said that a new B Tech programme in Integrated Circuit Design and Technology has been launched, alongside a major curriculum reform that enables B Tech students to pursue their 7th semester off-campus, engaging in internships, research projects, entrepreneurial ventures, or academic collaborations. He spoke of IITGN-X, the Institute's education outreach unit, which has conducted two e-Master's degree programmes in Energy Policy and Regulation and Data Science for Decision Making, and is scheduled to launch a new programme, Applications of Machine Learning in Engineering, in August this year. Two new academic programmes, Master of Design and the Professional Leader's PhD, were approved, alongside ongoing dual-degree collaborations with Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Japan) and Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand). Beside 111 Ph D scholars, the graduating class of 2025 comprised 141 M Tech students, 135 M Sc students, 36 MA students, 12 PGDIIT students, seven B Tech Dual Major students, 5 B Sc Engineering students, and 221 B Tech students.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Focus on FDI receipts by India from 2014 – 2024 & India's role in the Global Supply Chain in the future
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While the services sector emerged as the top recipient of FDI equity in FY 2024–25 attracting 19 % of total inflows it was followed by: Computer software and hardware (16 %), and; Trading (8 %). FDI into the Services sector rose by 40.81 % to $9.35 billion from $6.64 billion in the previous year, with a strong surge in the FDI in the Manufacturing sector growing by 18.11 % in FY 2024–25 reaching $19.04 billion compared to $16.12 billion in FY 2023–24. Transformation in India's foreign investment scenario post-2014 India's Foreign Investment scenario has experienced transformation since 2014 with FDI equity inflows having been noticed surging, especially between 2019 and 2024. Government reforms like Make in India and Digital India are credited with this increased investor confidence along with the digital economy and the manufacturing sectors having experienced significant growth, it has been observed. It has been pointed out, India has changed post-2014 from a hesitant reformer to a strategic magnet for investment resulting in the country attracting a significant amount of foreign capital over the past decade. While from 2004 to 2014 India received FDI equity inflows to the tune of $208 billion, between 2014 to 2024 it received over $500 billion FDI equity inflows, with $300 billion having been received between 2019 and 2024. It is noteworthy that despite global slowdowns, India received during the April–December 2024 period alone $40.67 billion FDI, demonstrating a monumental shift in global confidence in the ability of India. According to observers, this is not a mere coincidence. They point out that government's relentless focus on Minimum Government, Maximum Governance, and its flagship reforms, Make in India, Startup India, Digital India, GST rollout and the National Logistics Policy have not only improved ease of doing business but have enhanced India's appeal to the foreign investors, enabling India to climb in the World Bank Rank from over 140 to 63 in 2019. Embarking on Transformative Reforms In the Regulatory domain, the Indian government undertook transformative reforms across multiple sectors to liberalise FDI norms. Thus: Between 2014 and 2019: Increased FDI caps in Defence, Insurance & Pension sectors and; Liberalized policies for Construction, Civil Aviation & Single Brand Retail Trading. From 2019 to 2024: Allowed 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route in Coal mining, Contract manufacturing & Insurance intermediaries. In 2025, the Union Budget proposed: Increasing the FDI limit from 74% to 100% for companies investing their entire premium within India. The Sectoral performance in attracting FDI Computer software and hardware attracted $95 billion in FDI since 2014. Services ranging from finance and IT to R&D and consultancy attracted $77 billion. According to observers this demonstrates that India is no more just a back office, but rather, is a global innovation partner. In 2014, 75–80% of India imported smartphones. Their exports being negligible a decade ago have now surged to $21 billion the Production Linked Incentive scheme having prompted global giants like Apple to assemble iPhones in India through Foxconn, the Taiwanese Multinational Electronics Contract Manufacturer and Wistron, an Electronics Manufacturer based in Taiwan. In addition, FDI into manufacturing, auto, construction equipment, and pharmaceuticals demonstrates India's strategic shift from service-led to a balanced, broad-based growth. Contribution by FDI It is pointed out: Every dollar of FDI received, does not only represent capital, but also leads to: Job creation; Supply chain expansion, and; Transfer of technology. FDI fuels the MSME ecosystem scaling 'zero defect, zero effect' practices in manufacturing lead to assure customers, reduce wastages, increase productivity, expand markets, apart from saving on energy, etc. lifting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities into the investment spotlight. In an appeal, PM Narendra Modi has also urged the industry, especially the MSMEs to manufacture goods with 'zero defects' and to ensure that the goods have 'zero effect' on the environment. Foreign investors have also aligned with India's green ambitions. From renewable energy to electric mobility, foreign capital is now enabling not just growth, but sustainable & future-facing growth. Epilogue As companies diversify away from China under 'China+1', India has emerged as a stable, democratic, scalable alternative. The India-UAE CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between UAE & India, India-Australia ECTA (Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, and FTAs with the UK, EU, and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) nations are opening new high-value channels like Green Hydrogen, EVs, Fintech, and beyond. Although Vietnam and Indonesia are said to be the real competitors, India, according to observers, represents a unique mix of scale, stability, skills, and a massive domestic market. With reforms in land acquisition, judicial efficiency, and deepening infrastructure investment, India's ability to anchor global value chains according to them, will therefore only grow stronger over the period. Since 2014, according to observers, India's FDI trajectory reflects more than just capital inflow but signals global endorsement of India's structural shift. The combination of scale, reform, digital depth, and manufacturing intent of India is hard to match according to them. As such, as global supply chains realign, India stands out, not as an alternative, but as a priority according to them. The coming decade therefore would not be about catching up, but about leading by India according to them. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
NIT Rourkela 22nd Convocation held; over 2,000 degrees awarded
The National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) on June 20 held its 22nd convocation for the graduation class of 2024. As many as 2,065 students – 457 female and 1608 male – graduated from the institute this year. Uday A. Kaole, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited was present as the Chief Guest. S. N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman, Board of Governors, NIT Rourkela, virtually addressed the gathering, and Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, presented the Director's report. NIT Rourkela, this year, has seen a rise in the number of female students graduating in different streams. This year, as many as 457, which is more than 22 per cent of graduating students, were female students. 208 female students were conferred degrees in Bachelor programmes, 186 in Masters, and 63 in PhD programmes. A total of 93 international students, including 72 males and 21 females, were conferred degrees in the NIT Rourkela's 22nd convocation today in various academic programmes. These students represent diverse countries – four are from the United States of America, five from Afghanistan, three from Sri Lanka, five from Bhutan, 21 from Bangladesh, and 30 from Nepal. Additionally, 25 Non-Resident Indian (NRI) students from India also graduated. To honour academic excellence, the Institute also awarded eight Institute Gold Medals, six Endowment Gold Medals, seven Endowment Awards, and 59 Silver Medals to branch toppers of the graduating batch of the year 2024. While presenting the Director's report, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, said, 'On behalf of the institute I congratulate the graduating class of 2024 on their Convocation. Being one of India's leading technical Institutions, NIT Rourkela takes pride in nurturing competent professionals and responsible citizens. By introducing new age programs such as in Artificial Intelligence, and a growing international student community, we are preparing our graduates to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.' At the 22nd Convocation of NIT Rourkela, four alumni were honoured with Distinguished Alumnus Awards for their achievements in academia and research, industry and management, entrepreneurship and public life, and contributions made to the growth of the institute. The awardees included Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, Jharkhand; Er. Ashok Kumar Basa, Managing Director, C.E.M. Engineers & Consultants Pvt. Ltd; Er. R. S. Raghavan, Managing Director, Proman Infrastructure Services Pvt. Ltd; and Dr. Bhartendu Deo, Head of Electrical, Qatargas North Field Expansion Project.
