Higher education developments were led by major updates at the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar. Given the immediate timing and high interest across academic and engineering sectors, this update serves as highly relevant fresh and trending news. During the landmark IIT Ropar 15th convocation, the premier technology institute conferred degrees on 761 students across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral streams.
The graduating batch comprised 377 BTech, 177 MTech, 65 MSc, 140 PhD scholars, 1 BSc graduate, and 1 Diploma recipient. Alongside honoring academic achievements, the institution officially unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of its undergraduate degree framework starting from the 2026–27 academic session, signaling a progressive paradigm shift in technical education.
Redesigned Academic Structure Focuses on Flexible Undergraduate Curriculum
A central highlight announced at the IIT Ropar 15th convocation is the introduction of a student-driven flexible undergraduate curriculum aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Under this newly restructured system, engineering students will complete their mandatory core coursework by the end of the fifth semester (third year). This creates space during their final three semesters to pursue advanced electives, startup incubation, industrial internships, and cutting-edge research projects.
Furthermore, the institute introduced an Interdisciplinary Integrated Dual-Degree Programme. Students maintaining a CGPA of 7.0 or higher after six semesters can extend their study by one year to earn an MTech in emerging disciplines such as Data Science, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Cyber Security, and Energy Systems. The institute has also introduced a specialized one-year PG Diploma in UAV Operations and Drone Technology in partnership with Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University.
Inspirational Leadership Addresses High-Achieving Graduates
The IIT Ropar 15th convocation ceremony was presided over by Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman of the IIT Ropar Board of Governors, while Director Prof. Rajeev Ahuja presented the annual performance report. The event featured Satyanarayan Nuwal, Founder Chairman of Solar Industries India Limited and Padma Shri recipient, as the Chief Guest.
In his keynote address, Nuwal urged the graduating class to cultivate perseverance and take on complex, long-term societal challenges. Emphasizing that personal persistence matters far more than family background, he encouraged young engineers to build domain mastery in critical sectors rather than seeking routine career paths. Director Ahuja reminded graduates that genuine education balances technical knowledge with strong ethical values, urging them to drive meaningful social impact.