IIT Mandi Hosts 14th Convocation With Largest-Ever BTech Graduating Batch in the Institute’s History

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, one of India’s leading
IITs, held its 14th Convocation at the picturesque North Campus in the Kamand Valley. This
event was a further landmark in the glorious path that the institute has walked to become a
beacon of technological excellence and nation building in the Western Himalayas.
In total, 643 students have been conferred degrees this year comprising of 63 Ph.D. scholars,
259 postgraduate students, and 321 undergraduates. The Convocation ceremony is a testament
to the dedication and devotion of the institute to academic excellence, research significance,
innovation-based education, and the creation of leaders of tomorrow.
The event was graced by Mr. B.K. Goenka, Founder of Welspun World, as the Chief Guest.
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras and Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi,
attended as Guests of Honour. The ceremony was chaired by Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Kanwal Jeet
Singh Dhillon, PVSM, UYSM, YSM, VSM, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Mandi.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. B.K. Goenka, Founder, Welspun World, Chief Guest of the
event, said, “Congratulations to the graduating class on this significant milestone. As you step
into a rapidly changing world, I encourage you to embrace three values—joy, originality, and
courage. Stay original in the age of artificial intelligence, have the courage to learn from failures,
and never stop adapting. Knowledge today is only a button away; what truly matters is how you
apply it. Knowledge must be complemented by courage and resilience to overcome every challenge.
Remember, your time is India’s time, and the future of our nation will be shaped by your ideas,
actions, and commitment.”
Congratulating the graduating students, Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi,
said, “As our graduates embark on a new journey, I encourage them to use their knowledge,
innovation, and determination to contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Every
challenge presents an opportunity to innovate and create meaningful solutions for society. At IIT
Mandi, we remain committed to fostering excellence through cutting-edge research, innovation,
and future-ready education. The Institute has recently strengthened its academic ecosystem by
securing externally sponsored research projects worth nearly ₹100 crores and introducing new
programmes, including becoming the first IIT in India to launch a B.Tech. programme in Quantum
Science and Engineering, along with B.Tech. programmes in Agricultural Engineering with Data
Analytics and Chemical Engineering with Data Analytics. I congratulate the graduating class of
2026 and wish them every success in shaping the future of our nation.”

Celebrating Academic Excellence
This year’s Convocation was especially significant as it witnessed the graduation of the largest ever
number 321 of BTech students of IIT Mandi. It is a significant achievement on the part of the
institute on many counts.
One of the most remarkable highlights of the Convocation event was the achievement of Mr.
Vayun Goel, who received the prestigious President of India Gold Medal, along with the
Institute Gold Medal for B.Tech. (Computer Science and Engineering).
The presence of IIT Mandi’s influence can be observed across the diverse domains during the
Convocation event including engineering sciences, management, artificial intelligence, data
science, sustainability, health technologies, and advanced manufacturing.
Awarding Excellence and Leadership
Various medals and awards were handed out to honour excellence in academic and research
performances.

• The President of India Gold Medal and Institute Gold Medal in B.Tech. (Computer
  Science and Engineering) were given to Vayun Goel for his extraordinary
  performance in academics and other extracurricular activities.
• The Director’s Gold Medal was won by Sukhvansh Jain due to his exceptional
  contributions in academics, leadership, and development.
• The Institute Gold Medal in B.Tech. (Bioengineering) was won by Sneha Chandna
  whereas the Institute Gold Medal in B.Tech. (Civil Engineering) was bagged by
  Khushi Rewar.
• The other students who won the Institute Gold Medal (Undergraduate Programmes)
  include Bipanjit Singh in B.Tech. (Data Science and Engineering), Akshar Agrawal
  in B.Tech. (Electrical Engineering), Aridaman Singh Chauhan in B.Tech.
  (Engineering Physics), and Pranjal Vats in B.Tech. (Mechanical Engineering).
• For her excellent performance in academics as well as co-curricular activities, Archita
  was given the Rani Gonsalves Memorial Medal.
• The NBCC Awards were given to Khushi Rewar, Ojaswi Hemant Choudhary, and
  Niharika Chauhan on account of their distinguished performance in Civil Engineering.
• As a tribute to their innovative efforts and entrepreneurial mindset, Ananya Rai and
  Virani Devendrabhai Dineshbhai were presented the Institute Innovation Silver
  Medal.
• Ekansh Verma was bestowed upon the Kiran Bala Arora Memorial Award.
• The following were recipients of Institute Gold Medals among postgraduate students:
  Sneha Vijayan (M.A. in Development Studies), Khushi Garg (MBA Data Science and
  Artificial Intelligence), Kashish Chaudhary (M.Sc. Applied Mathematics), Preeti
  (M.Sc. Chemistry), Manav Gupta (M.Sc. Physics), Chikirsha Gulati (M.Tech.
  Biotechnology), Aayush Thakur (M.Tech. Power Electronics and Drives), and
  Adarsh Arya (M.Tech. Structural Engineering).

As a highlight, the Convocation celebrated exceptional achievements across academic
disciplines, innovation, leadership, and research, reflecting IIT Mandi’s commitment to
nurturing excellence and future-ready talent.

Charting the Future
The 14th Convocation ceremony was an expression of perseverance, innovation, excellence, and
aspirations. This ceremony highlighted IIT Mandi’s constant dedication to promoting
interdisciplinary research, entrepreneurship, innovations, and social impact.
This day witnessed many faculty members, parents, alumni, and distinguished guests all
celebrating together the achievements of the graduating students.
As the students proceed ahead in their life with new ventures in industry, academic institutions,
entrepreneurship, social work, or research, the 14th Convocation ceremony symbolizes the
dedication of IIT Mandi towards preparing future-ready innovators and leaders who contribute
to building a better nation.
The ceremony was indeed an inspiration for the students as they move ahead in life with
aspirations of lifelong learning, dedication, compassion, and serving their society with a
commitment to innovations and sustainability.