The 56th Meeting of the Council of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) was convened on 25th August 2025 at IIT Delhi, under the Chairmanship of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education.

The Council unanimously resolved to take forward PM’s vision of ‘Atmanirbharta se Samridha Bharat’ across its all stakeholders.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan emphasised positioning IIT education as a catalyst for an Atmanirbhar and Samriddha Bharat. He stressed the PM’s directive that the country is not aiming for incremental change but for quantum jump and encouraged the IITs to take lead in this direction. He specifically urged the IITs to promote Indian languages by introducing regional languages in addition to English as the medium of instruction of courses for inclusive growth. He highlighted that IITs must produce job creators, not job seekers, by solving real-world problems, and promoting translational research in critical technologies of national importance.

Underscoring the transformative role of IITs in advancing technological self-reliance and global leadership, The Minister pointed to their growing impact on entrepreneurship and innovation, aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of Reform, Perform, Transform. With over 6,000 start-ups, 56 unicorns, and nearly 5,000 patents, IITs have emerged as engines of economic growth and symbols of India’s aspirations in the Amrit Kaal. Supported by initiatives such as the PM Research Fellowship, Centres of Excellence in AI, and vibrant research parks, IITs are driving world-class research and industry partnerships.

Our IITs will lead from the front in shaping a Samriddh Bharat by 2047.

While discussing strategies on how our IITs can assume a greater role in fulfilling national aspirations and priorities, reiterated what Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji had said yesterday— “No incremental… pic.twitter.com/I3CuCYk1Iq

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) August 25, 2025

Speaking on the occasion,  Dr Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education and DoNER underlined the pivotal role of IITs in shaping India’s higher education and innovation ecosystem. He emphasized that IITs are not just centres of learning but engines of Innovation, Inclusion, and Transformation, driving India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047. Highlighting their global impact, the Minister said IITs have produced world-class technologists, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are transforming industries and societies worldwide. He noted that with 23 IITs, international campuses, and a thriving startup ecosystem, IITs are at the forefront of research, innovation, and nation-building, ensuring India continues to R.I.S.E. through Research, Innovation, Skills, and Entrepreneurship.

The meeting also witnessed the participation of dignitaries including Members of Parliament Dr. Rabindra Narayan Behera and Shri Tanuj Punia, Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of ISRO; Dr. Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corporation; Shri Senapathy ‘Kris’ Gopalakrishnan, Chairman of the Council of IISc Bangalore;  Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, Chairman-Executive Committee, NAAC and Chairman NETF; Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, former UGC Chairman; Shri Chamu Krishna Shastry, Founder of Samskrita Bharati; Ms. Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog; Shri Deepak Bagla, CEO (Atal Innovation Mission); Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education; Shri Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications; Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology; Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Department of Biotechnology; Shri S. Somanath, former Secretary, ISRO& Secretary , Department of Space; Dr. Sekhar C. Munde, foremer Secretary, DSIR & Director General, CSIR; Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Chairman AICTE; Shri T.V. Narendran, Chairman IIT Kharagpur; Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman IIT Madras; Shri Adil Siraj Zainulbhai, Chairman IIT Ropar; Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman IIT Jodhpur; Dr. B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, Chairman IIT Hyderabad; Shri Sanjiv Puri, Chairman IIT Gandhinagar; Adv. Harish Salve, Chairman IIT Delhi; Prof. Prem Vrat, Chairman IIT(ISM) Dhanbad; Dr. Rajendra Prasad Singh, Chairman IIT Bhubaneswar; Shri Ramesh Venkateswaran, Chairman IIT Palakkad; Shri Sharad Kumar Saraf, Chairman IIT Jammu; Dr. Suresh Haware, Chairman IIT Bhilai as well Directors of the IITs and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.

A short 5 minute movie was presented to learn from the hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision articulated on this Independence Day on how technology, research and entrepreneurship, can drive aatmanirbharta and contribute to the realisation of a Samridha Bharat.

The Council then deliberated on key strategic issues shaping the future of the IITs and their role in national development.

Discussions were held on reforming Ph.D. education to enhance quality, global relevance, and research outcomes, boost global rankings, attract top-tier talent, and strengthen the IITs’ reputation as hubs of advanced research. Extensive deliberations were held on the commercialisation of research within HEIs.

The Council also highlighted adapting the curriculum and pedagogy on real time basis with the advent of Artificial Intelligence. It was decided to constitute a Task Force to come up with detailed action plan for Higher and School Education for the country.

Further, the socio-economic and global impact of IITs was acknowledged, particularly through their alumni, who have evolved into global leaders, innovators, and wealth creators. The Council emphasised the importance of leveraging alumni networks for mentorship, industry linkages, and student development.

The importance of Mental Wellbeing was stressed, and various models adopted by different IITs were shared. It was also suggested to promote healthy living habits inside the campuses, as well as to have an annual health check up.

The role of IITs in translational research aligned with national priorities and societal needs was underscored. The need of a strong connect between Industry, Academia and Policy makers was underlined. Various suggestions and practices were mentioned. It was decided to come up with a policy within a period of 1 month, suggesting various practical methods, so that translational research and product development can happen in Indian Campuses to make Bharat Atmanirbhar.

Strategic roadmap, IITs@2047, was discussed to guide the future development of IITs in accordance with the aspirations of a resurgent and Viksit Bharat. Additionally, measures for pushing recruitment as per CEI Act within IITs were examined. The Council also recognized the need to elevate the IIT R&D Fair into a globally renowned platform to encourage innovation, strengthen industry and international collaborations, and attract investment. Discussions also included support for international students participating in internship programs at IITs and addressing challenges faced by foreign faculty members.

It was further shared that IITs are actively promoting regional and Indian languages through courses, translated materials, mentoring, and support centers like Shivani, as well as tools like Bhashini, to foster inclusivity. The Council resolved to take every step to facilitate learners from different bhasha backgrounds so that they are able to learn effectively.

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MV/AK

(Release ID: 2160698)