IIT Roorkee holds convocation, 1,277 undergraduate students conferred degrees
Garhwal Post Bureau
ROORKEE (Haridwar), 19 Sep: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee on Saturday celebrated the achievements of its graduating undergraduate students on the first day of its two-day Convocation 2026. On this occasion, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Kumar Doval called upon the young professionals to use their knowledge and skills for the larger good of society and the nation.
Doval, who was the Chief Guest and delivered the Convocation Address, said the challenges before India require young professionals and researchers who can think innovatively, act with integrity and contribute with a strong sense of purpose. He said it is a privilege to be part of the convocation of an institution that has made significant contributions to the nation through excellence in education, research and technological innovation.
Doval added that as the graduating students embark on the next phase of their journey, these youth carry with them not only the knowledge and skills acquired at the Institute but also the responsibility to use them for the larger good of society and the nation. He also congratulated the graduating students and wishing them success in their future endeavours on this occasion.
Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, General N S Raja Subramani was the Guest of Honour on this occasion, while former Solicitor General of India and Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Roorkee, Harish Salve presided over the ceremony. IIT Roorkee Director Prof KK Pant was also present.
A total of 1,277 undergraduate students were conferred degrees on the first day of the convocation. The recipients included 1,001 male and 276 female students from BArch, BTech, Integrated MTech, Integrated MSc, IDD, BS-MS and BS programmes.
The occasion was particularly significant for IIT Roorkee as the Institute is conferring its highest-ever number of degrees this year, with 2,701 students receiving degrees over the two-day convocation. The Institute is also awarding the BS-MS degree for the first time under its five-year Dual Degree Programme.
Addressing the graduating students, Prof KK Pant said the convocation marks not merely the completion of an academic programme but the beginning of a journey in which their knowledge, creativity and values could contribute to society and the nation. He urged the students to retain their curiosity, continue asking questions and remain committed to lifelong learning.
Pant added that at IIT Roorkee, the administration strives to nurture young minds who are equipped not only with technical knowledge, but also with the ability to think critically, innovate responsibly and address complex challenge. He urged the graduates to carry their achievements with humility and remain open to learning as they entered a new phase of their lives.
Harish Salve, in his address, told the students that life beyond IIT Roorkee would not always offer easy answers or predictable paths and urged them to embrace challenges without fearing failure. He said setbacks often provide lessons that shaped character and strengthen the resolve. He also called upon the graduates to use the opportunities before them not only to build fulfilling lives but also to contribute meaningfully to society and the nation.
General NS Raja Subramani said the progress of a nation depends greatly on the knowledge, capabilities and commitment of its young generation. He said institutions such as IIT Roorkee have played an important role in preparing young minds to address emerging challenges through technology, innovation and research. He encouraged the students to pursue excellence while remaining conscious of their responsibility towards the nation and society.
A significant highlight of the first day was the conferment of the Honoris Causa doctorate degree upon Ajit Kumar Doval. The honorary degree, conferred by the Chairman, Senate, recognises his distinguished public service and added significance to the convocation proceedings.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of Institute-level awards and medals, followed by the conferment of undergraduate degrees, the graduates’ oath and presentation of other medals and prizes.
Srivaradan Balaji, a student of BS-MS Chemical Sciences, received the President’s Gold Medal for securing the highest CGPA among undergraduate graduating students admitted through JEE (Advanced). Other medal winners included Navneet Kumar, who received the Director’s Gold Medal; Aashi Jain, who received the Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal; Roopam Taneja, who received the Institute Silver Medal; and Sukrit Jindal, who received the Institute Bronze Medal.
IIT Roorkee also highlighted its academic, research and innovation achievements during the year. In the QS World University Rankings, the Institute secured the 335th position globally and seventh position nationally. In the NIRF 2025 rankings, it was placed seventh in the Overall category and sixth in Engineering, while Architecture retained the top position for the fifth consecutive year.
During the year, the Institute filed 136 patent applications, secured 144 patent grants and supported the establishment of 11 faculty-led start-ups, further strengthening its research and innovation ecosystem.
The first day of Convocation 2026 thus celebrated the academic achievements of the graduating students while highlighting IIT Roorkee’s continuing emphasis on education, research, innovation and nation-building. The Institute said its graduates were now poised to carry forward its legacy of excellence and contribute to academia, industry, research and society.
The Convocation 2026 celebrations will continue tomorrow, when IIT Roorkee will confer postgraduate and PhD degrees on 1,424 students, recognising academic excellence, research and scholarly achievements across diverse disciplines.
