IIT Madras Celebrates 66th Institute Day, Honours Academic and Research Excellence

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras celebrated its 66th Institute Day on April 23, 2025, marking a year of academic, research, and institutional achievements. The event recognized the contributions of students, faculty, researchers, and alumni who have significantly advanced the institute’s legacy of excellence.

IIT Madras highlighted a major achievement, maintaining its top position in the NIRF Rankings for the sixth consecutive year in the 'Overall' category, and the ninth straight year in the 'Engineering Institutions' category. These accomplishments underscore the institute’s strong academic environment and consistent performance at the national level.

Honouring Alumni and Faculty

Notable alumni were honoured during the celebration. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and a 1993 IIT Madras graduate, was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his leadership in technology and innovation. Former ISRO Chairman S. Somnath also received the same recognition for his contributions to India’s space sector.

Kalyanaraman emphasized the role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in building India’s innovation ecosystem. He said the foundation would support deep-tech start-ups and mission-oriented research inspired by global institutions such as the US NRF and DARPA.

Institutional Initiatives and Student Success

IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti reflected on the institute’s achievements during the past academic year. He noted the success of the BS in Data Science and Applications program, where three students secured top-10 positions in the GATE Data Analytics paper, including All India Rank 1.

He also announced the launch of the Career Pathway Centre, which aims to guide students through various career options, ranging from civil services and entrepreneurship to industry roles and higher education.

To further innovation and national development, the institute plans to establish incubators in quantum technology, fintech, and sustainability. Additionally, a dedicated program has been launched to prepare students for the UPSC civil services examination, aligning with the Viksit Bharat 2047 mission.

Several prestigious awards were presented during the ceremony, including: