The Indian Institute of Technology Mandi celebrated its 14th Convocation on Saturday at its North Campus in Kamand, Mandi district, marking a historic milestone with the graduation of its largest-ever B.Tech cohort. A total of 643 students were awarded degrees, including 321 undergraduate students, 259 postgraduate students, and 63 PhD scholars.
Record-Breaking B.Tech Batch
This year's convocation was especially significant as the institute's largest-ever B.Tech batch of 321 students graduated. The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including BK Goenka, Founder of Welspun World, as Chief Guest. Prof V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, and Prof Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, attended as Guests of Honour. The event was presided over by Lt Gen Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon (Retd), Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Mandi.
Chief Guest's Address: Embracing Joy, Originality, and Courage
Addressing the graduating class, Goenka encouraged students to embrace “joy, originality and courage” in an era defined by rapid technological change and artificial intelligence. He emphasized adaptability and resilience as key traits for future leaders, according to a statement from the institute.
Major Academic Achievements and Gold Medal Winners
A key highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of academic excellence across disciplines. The President of India Gold Medal and Institute Gold Medal in Computer Science and Engineering were awarded to Vayun Goel, who emerged as one of the top achievers of the graduating batch. Other major awardees included:
- Director's Gold Medal: Sukhvansh Jain
- Bioengineering Gold Medal: Sneha Chandna
- Civil Engineering Gold Medal: Khushi Rewar
- Data Science and Engineering Gold Medal: Bipanjit Singh
- Electrical Engineering Gold Medal: Akshar Agrawal
- Engineering Physics Gold Medal: Aridaman Singh Chauhan
- Mechanical Engineering Gold Medal: Pranjal Vats
Among postgraduate students, gold medal recipients included scholars from diverse fields such as Development Studies, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Structural Engineering, and Management-related programs. Special awards such as the Institute Innovation Silver Medal, NBCC Awards, and memorial medals were also presented to recognize innovation, leadership, and interdisciplinary excellence.
Impact and Significance
The 14th Convocation underscores IIT Mandi's growing role in producing skilled engineers and researchers. The record B.Tech batch reflects the institute's expanding capacity and appeal. With a total of 643 degrees awarded, including 63 PhDs, the institute continues to contribute significantly to higher education and research in India. The presence of leaders from IIT Madras and IIT Delhi highlights collaboration among premier technical institutions.
