The Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur celebrated its 19th Foundation Day with a series of landmark initiatives reflecting its commitment to academic excellence, research, innovation, and nation building. The celebrations were graced by General N.S. Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Chief of Defence Staff, as the Chief Guest, while Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Jodhpur, presided over the celebrations. The event was hosted by Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal, Director, IIT Jodhpur, and witnessed the participation of Directors and senior representatives from 19 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), faculty members, students, alumni, industry leaders, and distinguished guests.

The Foundation Day celebrations commenced with a symbolic plantation drive, where Directors and senior representatives from 19 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), along with Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Jodhpur, Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal, Director, IIT Jodhpur, and other dignitaries, planted saplings on the Institute campus to establish the 'NITs Island'—a dedicated green space commemorating the spirit of collaboration among India's premier technical institutions. More than a ceremonial gesture, the initiative symbolized the shared commitment of IIT Jodhpur and the participating NITs towards environmental stewardship, sustainable development, and nurturing enduring academic partnerships. The newly created NITs Island will stand as a living testament to the collective vision of building a greener, knowledge-driven, and future-ready India through cooperation, innovation, and shared responsibility.

A major highlight of the Foundation Day celebrations was the launch of the IIT Jodhpur–NIT Engineering Woven Technology Excellence Corridor (NEWTEC), a first-of-its-kind collaborative academic initiative aimed at strengthening postgraduate technical education and research in the country. Under this pioneering initiative, 16 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with IIT Jodhpur for collaboration across 25 M.Tech. programmes. Conceived under the visionary leadership of Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal, Director, IIT Jodhpur, NEWTEC establishes a seamless academic pathway for meritorious B.Tech. students from participating NITs to pursue postgraduate studies at IIT Jodhpur while promoting joint research, interdisciplinary learning, faculty collaboration, and access to advanced research infrastructure. Aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the initiative is envisioned as a national model for academic collaboration that will foster innovation, strengthen institutional partnerships, and develop future-ready engineering talent to contribute to India's vision of a Viksit Bharat.

NEWTEC: A New Era of Academic Integration

Conceived by Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal, Director, IIT Jodhpur, NEWTEC establishes an integrated academic pathway enabling meritorious B.Tech. students from participating NITs to seamlessly pursue a Joint M.Tech. programme at IIT Jodhpur. Under this innovative model, students will complete seven semesters at their parent NIT before joining IIT Jodhpur in the eighth semester to undertake advanced coursework and research under joint supervision, culminating in the award of a Joint M.Tech. degree. The initiative further promotes collaborative research, faculty engagement, academic mobility and interdisciplinary innovation in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The initiative has already attracted participation from 19 NITs, representing a significant step towards strengthening India's higher technical education ecosystem.

Jodhpur Hydrogen Valley Innovation Foundation: Accelerating India's Green Hydrogen Mission

General N.S. Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Chief of Defence Staff,  also visited the Jodhpur Hydrogen Valley Innovation Foundation (JHVIF), where he unveiled the Foundation's identity, witnessed an interactive showcase of the Hydrogen Valley initiative, and laid the foundation stone for the Green Hydrogen project.

Promoted by IIT Jodhpur as a Section 8 company, JHVIF is a flagship initiative under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Government of India, envisioned to establish an integrated Green Hydrogen ecosystem encompassing renewable hydrogen production, purification, compression, storage and industrial applications. The initiative leverages Jodhpur's exceptional solar potential and indigenous technologies to create a national demonstration hub for clean hydrogen technologies, supporting India's transition towards energy security, sustainability and Net Zero commitments.

The Chief Guest, General N.S. Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Chief of Defence Staff, also inaugurated the Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw Bust and visited technology exhibitions showcasing cutting-edge research and innovation by IIT Jodhpur.

Recognition of Excellence

The Foundation Day ceremony also witnessed the release of "IITJ at a Glance" and "TechScape", highlighting the Institute's achievements and technological advancements.

The Institute honoured distinguished achievers through the presentation of:

Awardees

IIT Jodhpur Award for Nation Building

 IIT Jodhpur proudly confers the IANB IIT Jodhpur Award for Nation Building upon Prof. Rajat Moona for his exceptional contributions to India's digital governance, electoral systems, secure public digital infrastructure, and technology-driven nation building.

IIT Jodhpur proudly honours Shri Vikash Kumar, IPS with the IANB IIT Jodhpur Award for Nation Building for his exemplary contributions to public service, policing excellence, anti-narcotics initiatives and strengthening India's internal security.

Recognition of Excellence in Young Alumni (REYA) Awards

 Recognising the remarkable achievements of its young alumni across research, innovation, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and public service, IIT Jodhpur conferred the Recognition of Excellence in Young Alumni (REYA) Awards 2026 upon Dr. Arun Kumar Upadhyay, Dr. Akanksha Saran, Dr. Utkarsh Trivedi, Shri Rajat, and Dr. Kanika Singroha during the Foundation Day celebrations. Dr. Arun Kumar Upadhyay was honoured for his pioneering biomedical research on Alzheimer's disease and neurodegeneration; Dr. Akanksha Saran for her globally acclaimed contributions to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Dr. Utkarsh Trivedi for building AI-driven commerce solutions through entrepreneurship; Shri Rajat for his exemplary leadership and distinguished contributions to public administration and governance; and Dr. Kanika Singroha for her groundbreaking innovations in AI-enabled bioprinting and deep-tech healthcare solutions. The REYA Awards 2026 celebrate IIT Jodhpur alumni whose achievements are creating global impact while exemplifying the Institute's enduring spirit of innovation, excellence, leadership, and nation-building.

IIT Jodhpur Research Excellence Awards

Recognising excellence in research and innovation, IIT Jodhpur conferred the Research Excellence Awards 2026 upon distinguished faculty members for their exceptional contributions to research, scholarly publications, and academic excellence. The Senior Researcher Awards were presented to Dr. Neha Jain and Dr. Ranju Mohan (Engineering), Dr. Gaurav Bhatnagar (Science), and Dr. Bhaskar Kumar Kakati (Humanities, Social Sciences & Management). The Young Researcher Awards were conferred upon Dr. Pallavi Jain, Dr. Bhivraj Suthar, Dr. Shobhana Singh, and Dr. Hrishikesh (Engineering), and Dr. Bhushan Praveen Jangam (Humanities, Social Sciences & Management). The High Impact Publication Awards were presented to Prof. Shree Prakash Tiwari, Dr. Atul Kumar Sharma, and Dr. Debasis Das for their outstanding publications in internationally acclaimed journals. These awards underscore IIT Jodhpur's unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of research excellence, innovation, and impactful scholarship that contributes to scientific advancement and national development.

The prestigious Dr. Vandana Sharma Memorial Award for Teaching Innovation 2026 was conferred upon Dr. Vignesh Muralidharan, School of Artificial Intelligence & Data Science, in recognition of his pioneering contributions to experiential and project-based learning, fostering innovation in Brain-Computer Interfaces and interdisciplinary education at IIT Jodhpur.

Recognising the invaluable contributions of its non-teaching staff towards institutional excellence, IIT Jodhpur conferred the Staff Meritorious Awards 2026 upon Mr. Jayanta Borthakur (Manager, ICT–Networking), Mr. Amit Singh Chauhan (Manager, Facilities), and Ms. Stuti Khandal (Junior Assistant).  

Recognising exceptional dedication and exemplary service towards strengthening the Institute's administrative and operational excellence, IIT Jodhpur conferred the Director's Meritorious Service Awards 2026 upon Mr. Sharabh Pradhan, Assistant Registrar, Mr. Neeraj Kumar, Junior Superintendent, and Mr. Shyam Sundar Singh, Junior Superintendent, during the Foundation Day celebrations. Mr. Sharabh Pradhan was honoured for his outstanding contributions to procurement, audit, recruitment, commercial facility development, and housing administration; Mr. Neeraj Kumar for his exemplary role in institutional governance through coordination of statutory bodies, policy documentation, RTI and Ministry-related matters; and Mr. Shyam Sundar Singh for his dedicated efforts in streamlining faculty recruitment, establishment processes, and institutional data management. Their unwavering professionalism, commitment, and administrative excellence have significantly contributed to the efficient functioning and continued growth of IIT Jodhpur.

 The ceremony also marked the inauguration of the IIT Jodhpur Donation Management System, further strengthening institutional engagement with alumni and benefactors.

Director's Quote

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal, Director, IIT Jodhpur, said:

“The first eighteen years of IIT Jodhpur have been a journey of bold aspirations, relentless innovation, and purposeful growth. As we celebrate our 19th Foundation Day and embark on the vision of IITJ 6.0, we reaffirm our commitment to creating transformative knowledge, pioneering technologies, and solutions for society. Our focus is to nurture globally competent, ethically grounded, and innovation-driven leaders who can address humanity’s grand challenges. With world-class infrastructure, interdisciplinary research, and strong industry partnerships, IIT Jodhpur is shaping the future of higher education and contributing meaningfully to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and a sustainable world.”

Chief Guest's Quote

Addressing the gathering, General N.S. Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Chief of Defence Staff, said:

“You are stepping into a world shaped by rapid geopolitical shifts, geo-economic competition, and technology-driven warfare. This is your moment to innovate with purpose. Let your research move beyond laboratories and become solutions that strengthen our nation. Build stronger bridges between academia, industry, and defence, and uphold the values of ILEARN—Integrity, Lifelong Learning, Excellence, Attitude, Respect, and Nation. With knowledge, character, and commitment, each one of you can become a catalyst for a self-reliant, technologically empowered India and help realise the vision of Viksit Bharat.”

Quote of Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Jodhpur

 “Foundation Day is an occasion to reflect on our journey and envision the future. As IIT Jodhpur enters a new phase of maturity, it must redefine technical education through experiential learning, mother-tongue instruction, and emerging technologies. Our responsibility is to nurture problem-solvers who live in harmony with nature, understand the societal impact of technology, and create sustainable solutions for India and the world by 2047.”

As IIT Jodhpur commemorates eighteen years of transformative growth, the Foundation Day celebrations reaffirmed the Institute’s unwavering commitment to advancing knowledge, nurturing innovation, and serving the nation through impactful education and research. With pioneering initiatives such as NEWTEC, the Jodhpur Hydrogen Valley Innovation Foundation, strategic collaborations with premier institutions, and the recognition of excellence across its community, IIT Jodhpur continues to strengthen its position as a catalyst for technological leadership and societal progress. Guided by visionary leadership and inspired by the aspirations of a Viksit Bharat, the Institute remains dedicated to creating solutions that address national priorities, empower future generations, and contribute meaningfully to a self-reliant, sustainable, and globally competitive India.

 

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