Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur director Suman Chakraborty said Tuesday that the institute’s research covers “a wide range of fields, including virtual accident monitoring, wastewater engineering, and next-generation wireless communication”.
“We are pushing the boundaries in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. The AI department has begun offering BTech and MTech degree programmes, as well as interdisciplinary dual degree programs. It has become a national leader in responsible and explainable AI, with real-world applications in healthcare and climate, emphasising human-centric AI,” said Chakraborty on the occasion of the 71st convocation of IIT Kharagpur.
“We have taken decisive steps to enhance national defence capabilities through the DRDO Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence, which focuses on underwater robotics and cyber-physical defence systems. Our healthcare technologies are reaching rural India, while AI models are being utilised for disaster response and precision agriculture,” he added.
Chakraborty said that over the past year, IIT Kharagpur has strengthened its global presence with the ‘Young Innovators’ programme, which attracted 470 teams from around the world. Additionally, it has introduced several master’s programmes, including those in public policy, law, and governance, he said.
Dr S Somanath, former ISRO chairman, was the chief guest. Dr Anand Deshpande, founder and chairperson of Persistent Systems; Ms. Anuradha Acharya, CEO of Mapmygenome; and T V Narendran, chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Kharagpur, were present. As many as 3,731 students graduated during the 71st convocation of IIT Kharagpur.
Narendran, also the managing director of Tata Steel, stated, “India is on the rise to become a global leader in technology and manufacturing. Our stories are deeply intertwined with India’s progress. IIT Kharagpur is keeping pace with these changes and contributing to the future.”
A total of 3,731 degrees, including 277 PhDs, 18 MS, 956 MTech, 23 EMBA, 58 PGDBA, 5 MMST, 28 MHRM, 18 MArch, 786 dual degrees, 614 BTech (Hons), 46 BArch (Hons), 151 four-year BS, 260 five-year MSc, 214 two-year MSc, 3 MSc MTech, 3 three-year MSc, were awarded along with the President’s Gold Medal, the Prime Minister’s Gold Medal, and other honours. Also, 25 distinguished alumni awards were bestowed upon the alumni for their contributions to science, academia, education, research and society.
IIT Kharagpur has received 165 new sponsored research projects of sanctioned funds worth Rs 113.91 crore and 152 new consultancy projects of sanctioned funds worth Rs 31.11 crore. The total fund received during the period is Rs 164.16 crore for research projects and around Rs 31.36 crore for consultancy projects. This list includes several high-value and flagship projects from the government and the public sector industry.
The institute has been ranked 4th in India in the latest QS World University Rankings for 2026. This marks a significant improvement, as it jumped seven places compared to its performance in 2024, now positioning itself as the 215th-ranked university in the world.
As IIT Kharagpur approaches its Platinum Jubilee in 2026, it will host a two-year celebration from August 2025 to August 2027. The institute plans to mark this occasion with the release of a commemorative coin and a postal stamp.