DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Academic Programmes

The Institute began its academic journey in 2015 with an initial intake of 106 students in the B. Tech programme in four branches. The Institute expanded its academic offerings with the launch of MS (Research) and PhD programmes in 2017, followed by the commencement of the M.Tech. programme in 2018. Additionally, the Science departments offer M.Sc programs in Chemistry, Mathematics & Statistics, and Physics. In 2022, the Institute further diversified its curricula by introducing a master's program in Public Policy, becoming the third IIT to do so.

During the last year, the institute has taken various initiatives on the academic front. Students were admitted in the newly introduced inter disciplinary B.Tech. programme in Engineering Physics, coordinated by the Departments of Physics and Electrical Engineering. Introduced a cross-disciplinary M. Tech. programme in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, both in regular and self-sponsored mode, and MSc. in Mathematics. M. Tech. in Advanced Energy Storage Technology under Industry Sponsored category has also been introduced from admission year 2025-26.

To give multidisciplinary experience to all the undergraduate students, 12 minors encompassing the recent technology trends and natural demands such as Artificial Intelligence, Green and Renewable Energy, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Environmental Management, Public Policy etc. for undergraduate students were introduced. In this 7th convocation, many students have benefited from these minors.

The Institute has entered into MoUs with a few international, academic and research Institutes in the last academic year, such as (a) International Advanced Research Center for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), (b) University of Agder (UiA), Norway, and (c) BITS Pilani to promote student and faculty exchange. The Cotutelle programme for joint supervision and award of the Ph.D. degree from both the institutes up on completion of the degree requirements has been launched with the University of Agder (UiA), Norway.

The Institute also has introduced a new B.Tech.+ M.S. (R) dual degree programme for a course intensive and research-based learning. For the supportive learning of the weak students, Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) was also initiated, where students can learn from each other. For exceptional performance in Academics, 27 students were awarded with Institute Merit Awards on 10th Institute Day.

Campus Infrastructure

It has been planned that the Permanent Campus would be constructed in phases. The Campus seeks to provision 2,500 students, 250 faculty members and 275 staff members in the initial phases. In Phase A, the infrastructure development to cater to 1,200 students along with all associated facilities was completed in September 2023. Now the campus is fully operational with all the developed facilities.

During 2024-25, 780 kW roof top solar power works under CAPEX model has been completed and operational.

In addition to the previously received awards from various national and international agencies in recognition of the sustainable construction, health, and safety practices adopted at IIT Tirupati construction project, the following awards were received during 2024-2025.

IIT Tirupati has coordinated for submitting the DPR for phase B campus development of Five 3G IITs to the MoE which has been approved by the cabinet recently.

Under Phase B IIT Tirupati is targeted to increase the number of students to 2685 by 2028-29. Budget approved for this phase is Rs. 2313 Cr. which includes Rs. 1243 Cr. for construction and Rs. 517 Cr. for Equipment and Furniture. Currently, Phase B building designs are being finalised to enable us to float the tenders by the end of 2025.

Academic and Sponsored Research

The faculty members of the Institute have published 1,703 publications, encompassing journal articles, book chapters, and authored or edited books published by internationally esteemed publishers. IIT Tirupati faculty members are actively engaged in research and consultancy projects. Over the past year alone, we secured 44 sponsored research projects totaling Rs. 24.05 Crores and 61 industrial consultancy projects valued at approximately Rs. 3.253 Crores. Cumulatively, our efforts have yielded 231 sponsored research projects amounting to Rs. 211.1 crores and 284 industrial consultancies worth Rs. 28.75 crores.

Dr Bijily B and CO PI's from Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, have received a sponsored research grant of 7.81 crore from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. This Project aims to develop Mix Design, Structural Performance & Construction Guidelines for Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) elements. Dr. Brindha Moorthy, and Dr. Ranjith T from Department of Chemical Engineering received a consortium project, Development and Demonstration of Materials & Fabrication Technologies for Tropical Batteries under Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas - Electric Vehicle (MAHA-EV) , with lead PI from ARCI Hyderabad, with total project cost of 73.96 Crore, IIT Tirupati will receive 2.3 crore for developing next generation battery materials.

Dr. Ranjith T, Department of Chemical Engineering, has received a sponsored research grant of 1.44 crore from the Central Power Research Institute. This Project aims to Design & Development of High Energy Density Sodium-ion Batteries from Indigenous Minerals with wide temperature adaptability for ESS applications. Dr. Thiyagarajan R, Department of Mechanical Engineering, has received a sponsored research grant of 1.24 crore from the Ministry of Earth Sciences. This Project aims to develop underwater Glider with Indigenous Sea Battery.

We have established a Common Incubation Centre (CIC) under the Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, focused on processing mangoes, citrus fruits, and tomatoes. The center is now well equipped and ready to support local farmers in producing value-added products from their harvests. The Government of Andhra Pradesh is establishing the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH) using a hub-and-spoke model to promote inclusive, innovation-driven development across the state. Our Institute is actively participating in this initiative as the knowledge partner for the Tirupati Spoke and is currently hosting its temporary facility on our campus. IIT Tirupati has also been strategically positioned as a core academic partner in the initial phase of Amaravati Quantum Valley. Our contributions will focus on manpower development through curriculum design, faculty training, and academic support.

The institute is deeply involved in National Missions like Interdisciplinary Cyber- Physical Systems (ICPS), Quantum Technology Applications (QTA), and initiatives such as the Hydrogen Mission and India Semiconductor Mission. Additionally, the Institute has set up a Center of Excellence on Smart Manufacturing and EV Technologies in collaboration with Siemens and Wipro, a 5G Use-Case Lab funded by the Department of Telecommunications.

IIT Tirupati is actively fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through various initiatives and collaborations. The institution has established key bodies such as the Institution's Innovation Council, Entrepreneur Cell, Pre-incubation Cell, and IPR Cell, alongside technical clubs, all aimed at driving innovation and startup activities. Notably, the Innovation Fund, constituting 1% of the Institute's recurring budget, supports internal innovations. The pre-incubation cell further aids students and research scholars with funding of up to Rs. 1.5 Lakhs for innovative technical business ideas, enhancing Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) and facilitating prototyping and testing.

IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF)

Recently, DST Secretary Prof. Abhay Karandikar visited IITTNIF and praised its innovative initiatives and impactful contributions in deep-tech and PNT domains, recognizing its growing role in advancing India's technology ecosystem.

Faculty Recruitment and Appointments (July 2024– June 2025)

IIT Tirupati has conducted faculty recruitment across all departments and has appointed 24 Assistant Professors, 1 Associate Professor, and 3 Professors. This recruitment drive was undertaken to strengthen the Institute's teaching and research capacity, address the growing academic needs of students, and support the Institute's vision of excellence in education and innovation.

The newly recruited faculty members bring diverse expertise and will contribute significantly to curriculum development, high-quality research, and mentoring students.

IIT Tirupati has appointed 3 Adjunct faculty members and 2 Professor of Practice from other IITs as well as other distinguished academics. Their vast experience and expertise will help enhance the Institute's teaching, research, and mentoring activities.

Further, to provide students with practical industry exposure and to bridge the gap between academia and industry, experienced industry professionals have been engaged as Professors of Practice. These experts bring valuable real-world insights and will contribute to teaching, project guidance, and the development of industry- oriented curriculum and collaborations.

Academic Distinctions Secured by the Faculty Members

In recognition of their academic achievements, our faculty, staff and students have been bestowed several academic distinctions, honours and awards, and memberships on editorial boards of journals. A few of the awardees are:

Conferences, Continuing Education and Outreach Programmes

IIT Tirupati envisions setting up an ecosystem of academic excellence and transform classrooms into global avenues of learning. Towards this vision, a new Dean's Office of Competency Development and Outreach (CDO) was established in January 2025. Spanned by three verticals – Competency Development Programs, Outreach Programs and Institutional Communication & Analytics, the CDO Office will be the nodal point for all external academic offerings (micro degrees, certifications, degrees), conferences / symposia / open house, and data capture for institutional advancement & media outreach.

A diverse range of academic, research, and innovation events were hosted in the outgoing academic year. These included certificate courses on AI & ML, a short-term course on Vacuum Technology, and a GIAN course on Jet Engine Flow Theory. Several national and international workshops and conferences were held on topics such as Indian Psychology, Ergodic Theory, Asset Management, Public Policy, and Scientific Communication. Notable events included the Eye Innovation Hackathon, Rural Startup Pitch Contest, Interstellar Fest (SAPCE), the SMART India Hackathon Grand Finale, and a symposium on Additive Manufacturing. A three-day international conference on construction materials and structures, ICCMS 2025, was conducted with extensive participation from industry and academic luminaries. The institute also collaborated with various partners for events on water inequality, battery innovation, and analog hardware design. Finally, IIT Tirupati actively contributed to the growth of SWAYAM PRABHA, as a National Coordinating partner of this Ministry of Education, GoI, initiative for creating open-access educational content.

A multi-course training program on effective communication, ML & AI, mechatronics, failure modes and protection methods for Thriveni Earthmovers Pvt. Ltd. was launched on July 07, 2025. The program will be delivered in a hybrid (online & on-site) mode.

The Institute takes pride in reporting the launch of its first industry-sponsored M. Tech. program in the cutting-edge area of Advanced Energy Storage Technology with an assured subscription by JSW and Amara Raja. Aimed at upskilling engineers / scientists in energy, materials and manufacturing industries at the convenience of their workplace, this multi- disciplinary program involving five departments (CH, CY, ME, EE, HS), will be conducted in a hybrid (online & campus immersion) mode and will be administered by the CDO Office.

As a first stride in fostering academic collaborations with educational institutions within and across the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, the Office of CDO, IITT conducted an Open Conclave jointly with PALS, a 15-year-old educational initiative by Pan-IIT Alumni for achieving educational excellence of engineering colleges. Representatives from several institutions attended the event and have initiated active consultations.

Memorandums of Understanding Signed

IIT Tirupati is nurturing strong relations with research labs, educational institutions and Industries to foster collaborative academic and research initiatives through strategic partnerships. The Institute has inked more than fifty Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with varied educational and research institutions, Government Research and Development agencies, Public Sector Undertakings, and Industry associates.

Active international MoUs of the Institute include partnerships with the University of Agder, Norway, and Dalhousie University, Canada. Further, the Institute has entered into MoUs as a part of a consortium with DAAD, Germany, Fédération Gay- Lussac, France, WHEELS Global Foundations USA and the Heritage Network, EU.

In addition, the Institute has established strategic partnerships through MoUs with several Government bodies and organizations, including CSIR- Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Roads and Building Department, Centre for Adivasi Research and Development Odisha (CARD), Bureau of Indian, Central Road Research Institute, Glazing Society of India, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Kia India Motors for Industry Academia Collaboration as well as setting up Makes lab and Aarvee Associates for providing stipend to the RGUKT meritorious students who are involved in internship at IIT Tirupati.

International Engagements and Academic Collaborations

Student Co-Curricular and Extra-Curricular Activities

Apart from their academic rigour, students at the Institute are active in the overall development of their personalities. Students engage with their peers in social service, club activities, cultural programmes, annual festivals, etc. Some of the events held in the past year include:

Placement

IIT Tirupati's Career Development Centre (CDC) plays a pivotal role in providing placement and internship opportunities, emphasising continuous career development and guidance throughout the year. Serving as a crucial platform for industry interaction, IIT Tirupati consistently attracts leading recruiters. The institute has observed a notable annual increase in the number of visiting companies, job roles, and offered packages. The 2024 placement season had participation from over 85 companies.

GCU - Guidance and Counselling Unit

Sarathi, the Guidance and Counselling Unit (GCU) at the Institute, is committed to enhancing students' personal growth and mental well-being while fostering a culture of wellness across the campus. GCU offers counselling sessions and promotes mental health awareness through webinars and other campus initiatives. Additionally, students have access to the YourDOST team, an online platform available 24x7, offering support through text, voice, and video interactions with counsellors.

The BBC (Bond beyond classes) Event, a thought-provoking talk on the RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT, Pit Stop Training Programme for Ph.D. scholars, A film screening through YourDOST to raise awareness about emotional support resources were a few notable activities by the Sarathi team.

Acknowledgements

The growth of our Institute would not have been achievable without the dedicated efforts and cooperation of our students, faculty, staff, agencies, and industries supporting R&D projects.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Education, Government of India, for its continued and sustained encouragement and support. The Ministers, officers and staff at MoE have always actively helped and guided us. Generous funding from the Government of India has facilitated the establishment of essential infrastructure, laying a strong foundation for our Institute's ongoing development.

I also thank the Government of Andhra Pradesh for its multifaceted support.

Special recognition is due to the Chairman of our Board of Governors, Shri Sajjan Jindal, and all the Board members for their invaluable counsel, constant support and guidance for enabling us to scale new heights.

I would like to sincerely thank Shri Lakshmi Narayanan for gracing this Convocation. We are eager to hear his words of advice to our graduating students.

In closing, I extend my congratulations to you all graduands, wishing you happiness, professional success, and fulfilment in your service to your profession, family, society, and country at large. Your cohort has set a remarkable standard for future batches, demonstrating maturity and resilience, especially amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

I see a great future for this Institute and assure you that you will be proud of your alma mater.