DEAN ACR NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2025

From the Dean's Desk April-2025

Prof. Ravindra D. Gudi

Ph.D., FNAE, FNASc & FIIChE
Dean – Alumni and Corporate Relations
Institute AI & ML Chair Professor

“

Dear Alumni,

 

As we approach the end of another academic year, I am happy to share that the growth momentum at IIT Bombay continues. The groundbreaking research, meaningful collaborations, and memorable moments remind us of the strength of this extraordinary alumni and academic community.

 

Starting with the QS Rankings by Subject 2025. IIT Bombay has once again reinforced its global standing by leapfrogging 17 spots; we are now ranked 28th worldwide in the broad category of Engineering and Technology. These rankings reflect the continued excellence of our academic ecosystem and our growing impact on the global stage. Please look for more in the Institute Highlights section.

 

I also have some exciting news to share. We are gearing up to launch our Corporate CSR Newsletter. As our CSR partnerships continue to grow phenomenally — with over 40 new collaborators added this year alone, bringing our total to 172 partners and 218 impactful projects — this new platform will spotlight the transformative work being done across education, sustainability, healthcare, skilling, and beyond.

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SPECIAL REPORT

Foundation Day 2025

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Interim Convocation Ceremony 2025

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Evolving Campus Infrastructure

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ALUMNI ACCOLADES



• Mr. Rizwan and Ms. Rekha Koita
• Prof. Neelesh A. Patankar

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CORPORATE COLLABORATION








• Rishabh Instruments

• iVP Semi

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FACULTY STARTUP SPOTLIGHT





SEDEMAC
- Prof. Shashikanth Suryanarayanan

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IN MEMORIAM









Mr. Janak Daftari (1949–2025)

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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT



• "Paddle-Wheels” Sensor Detects Heavy Metals in Water

• Strategies to Extract Truth from Unwilling Senders

• Coastal Vegetation Mitigates Tsunami Impact

• Cobalt-Based Catalysts Reduce Carbon Emissions

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ALUMNI REUNION HIGHLIGHTS









• DJRU: Class of 1965

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LECTURE SERIES

The Lecture Series at IIT Bombay serves as a platform for scholarly exchange, bringing together renowned academicians, distinguished faculty, and thought leaders to discuss critical, scientific, and technological advancements shaping the world today. Flagship initiatives like the Institute Colloquium Series and the N.R. Kamath Lecture Series provide the IIT Bombay community with invaluable insights into emerging challenges, groundbreaking research, and transformative innovations across disciplines. Over the past month, the Institute has hosted a series of thought-provoking lectures that have enriched academic discourse and fostered meaningful intellectual interactions among students and faculty, further strengthening the Institute’s vibrant academic ecosystem

Read on for highlights from these engaging sessions.

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INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS

IITB Rises in QS Rankings by Subject 2025

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IITB’s BharatGen Shines in PM Modi’s Vision at Paris AI Summit

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IITB Hosts ICONS 2025

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IITB Showcases Innovations at IInvenTiv 2025

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Faculty Accolades

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IIT Bombay Celebrates Women’s Day

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IITB Hosts CCUS and CDR Workshop

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Global Delegation explores AI at IITB

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IITB Partners with Stuttgart University

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IITB Signs MoU with IE, Spain

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IITB to Strengthen Mumbai’s Suburban Rail Network

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IITB Celebrates Matrubhasha Day

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IITB Tops Social Media Survey

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Upcoming Events
Hostel Celebration Day

Project Evergreen is the brainchild of the Institute’s alumni and their commitment to building a state-of-the-art hostel complex for the current and future generations of IITB students. The name Evergreen is as much a reflection of the verdant lushness of the Powai campus, as much as it is of the alumni’s everlasting connection to their […]

Day & Date: December 20, 2025
Time: 11:00 am
Venue: Project Evergreen Building
Alumni Day

IIT Bombay will celebrate its annual Institute Valedictory Function (Valfi) in May. As always, Valfi will feature an extraordinary alumnus as the Chief Guest for one of its most popular and significant events. The Institute hopes that graduating students will take away many of life’s key lessons from his/her extraordinary professional journey and impactful personal […]

Day & Date: December 28, 2025
Venue: Convocation Hall

From the Dean's Desk April-2025

Dear Alumni,

 

As we approach the end of another academic year, I am happy to share that the growth momentum at IIT Bombay continues. The groundbreaking research, meaningful collaborations, and memorable moments remind us of the strength of this extraordinary alumni and academic community.

 

Starting with the QS Rankings by Subject 2025. IIT Bombay has once again reinforced its global standing by leapfrogging 17 spots; we are now ranked 28th worldwide in the broad category of Engineering and Technology. These rankings reflect the continued excellence of our academic ecosystem and our growing impact on the global stage. Please look for more in the Institute Highlights section.

 

I also have some exciting news to share. We are gearing up to launch our Corporate CSR Newsletter. As our CSR partnerships continue to grow phenomenally — with over 40 new collaborators added this year alone, bringing our total to 172 partners and 218 impactful projects — this new platform will spotlight the transformative work being done across education, sustainability, healthcare, skilling, and beyond. It’s a big step forward in celebrating the powerful change our corporate partners are enabling. So, do keep an eye out — we are very eager to share this milestone with you.

 

This month, we marked a significant milestone in our journey. We celebrated our 66th Foundation Day on March 10, the day Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone of IIT Bombay in 1958. It was more than just a ceremonial act; it symbolised a vision for a new India led by science, technology, and education. I invite you to revisit this inspiring legacy through our Special Report.

 

We also have details with a Special Report on the Institute’s interim 63rd Convocation Ceremony — a moment of pride as over 330 students received their degrees. Each student crossing the stage represents a new chapter of promise and potential. Their journeys remind us of the Institute’s enduring mission to nurture excellence and enable global impact.

 

On campus, transformation continues to take shape — quite literally. From a new food court, hospital facilities, a new playground, and more, our infrastructure initiatives are designed to create a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-looking environment for students, faculty, and staff alike. We share more on these developments in our Special Report on Campus Infrastructure.

 

We were delighted to welcome the Class of 1965 back to campus for their Diamond Jubilee Reunion — an occasion filled with warmth, nostalgia, and laughter. Watching our senior alumni reconnect with old friends and revisit their favourite haunts was a moving reminder of the lifelong ties that bind us all to this place.

 

In this edition’s Alumni Accolades, we’re delighted to celebrate Rizwan and Rekha Koita, whose recognition by Forbes India for their philanthropic work is a testament to the values IIT Bombay alumni carry forward. We also congratulate Prof. Neelesh A. Patankar for his appointment as the new Faculty Director of the Northwestern-Argonne Institute for Scientific and Engineering Excellence (NAISE). What a proud moment this is for the IIT Bombay community.

 

We continue to deepen our engagement with industry partners, forging collaborations that fuel innovation and amplify impact. The Corporate Collaboration section details recent partnerships with Rishabh Instruments and iVP Semi, which are opening new frontiers in energy and semiconductor technologies. These tie-ups are not only advancing research but also creating exciting opportunities for our students and faculty.

 

In the Faculty Startup Spotlight, you’ll find the inspiring story of Sedemac Mechatronics — a deep-tech venture incubated at IIT Bombay, now preparing for its IPO. Founded by Prof. Shashikanth Suryanarayanan from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sedemac is a shining example of how ideas born at the Institute can scale into nationally significant enterprises, powered by academic rigor and entrepreneurial drive.

 

This month also brought a moment of reflection as we paid tribute to Mr. Janak Daftari, an alumnus whose quiet dedication to water conservation left a lasting legacy. His life reminds us that impact doesn’t always make headlines — sometimes, it flows quietly, transforming lives drop by drop. We have more on the impact that Janak made on the community around him in the In Memoriam section.

 

Our Research Spotlight continues to showcase pioneering work across domains. These stories reaffirm our belief that research, when rooted in purpose, can change the world.

 

We also have all of our other regular articles, including Institute Lecture Series, Faculty Accolades, Institute News and Highlights, Upcoming Events, and more in this month’s newsletter.

 

Thank you, as always, for your steadfast support. Your continued engagement makes our community truly special, infusing it with strength, inspiration, and pride. Whether you return to campus, mentor a student, contribute to a cause, or simply read these updates with interest, your presence is felt and deeply valued. Together, let us carry forward the legacy of IIT Bombay and shape its future — one step, one connection, and one story at a time.

 

With Warm Wishes,

 

Prof. Ravindra D. Gudi, Ph.D., FNAE, FNASc & FIIChE
Dean – Alumni and Corporate Relations
Institute AI & ML Chair Professor