IIT Mandi has emerged as premier centre for engineering, research: PM

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has emerged as a premier centre for engineering education and research, fulfilling the aspirations of people of the region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.

In his message on the sixth convocation of the institute in the hill-state of Himachal Pradesh, Modi stressed that it was one of the youngest IITs in the country as he congratulated the graduating students.

The prime minister's message was read out by IIT Mandi director Timothy A. Gonsalves at the function.

On the occasion, degrees were conferred upon a total of 211 students including 29 PhD scholars, 11 MS (by Research), 28 MSc (Chemistry), 11 MSc Mathematics, 20 MTech and 112 BTech students.

The number of Research Scholars graduating this year increased to 40 from last year's 31.

Delivering the chief guest address, Padma Shri Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Institute Professor, IIT Madras, said, "A lot has to be done in the area of energy-storage to enable renewables to become the dominant source of energy for the nation and the world."
Presenting the annual report, Gonsalves said, "We now have a total of 1,276 students including 274 Ph.D., 46 M.S. and 17 I-Ph.D. Research Scholars."
Subodh Bhargava, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Mandi, said, "This year faculty members visited SAARC countries to recruit students."