IIT Roorkee Snippets

June, 2026

Prof. Praveen Kumar Appointed Deputy Director of IIT Roorkee:

Prof. Praveen Kumar, an alumnus of IIT Roorkee (M.E. and Ph.D.) and Professor (HAG) of Transportation Engineering, has been appointed as the Deputy Director of IIT Roorkee. Formerly the Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Roorkee and Director of NIT Delhi, he has made significant contributions to teaching, research, academic leadership, and infrastructure development. A renowned expert in transportation engineering and rural infrastructure, he has authored nearly 500 research publications, completed over 250 research and consultancy projects, and currently serves as Chairman of the National Advisory Committee for PMGSY. His contributions have been recognized with prestigious honours, including the CSIR National Prize, AICTE Young Teachers' Career Award, and the Distinguished Alumni Award of MNIT Jaipur.

IIT Roorkee Showcases Innovation at Bharat Innovates 2026:

IIT Roorkee marked its presence at Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France, a landmark event under the India–France Year of Innovation, jointly inaugurated by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. The conclave brought together leading DeepTech startups, innovators, investors, and industry leaders from both countries. During the event, Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, interacted with Dr. Harish Salve, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Roorkee, and Shri B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, Former Chairman, Board of Governors. The Institute's participation reflected its growing global presence and commitment to advancing innovation, research, and international collaboration.

Collaborative Initiative for DeepTech Innovation:

In a landmark initiative, IIT Roorkee, in collaboration with IvyCap Ventures and NuQuant, has launched a ₹1,000 crore Super Endowment Fund to strengthen India's research, innovation, and DeepTech ecosystem. Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat, the Fund will support breakthrough research, technology commercialization, intellectual property creation, startup growth, and industry–academia collaboration. Designed as a perpetual and self-sustaining source of capital, it will promote innovation across strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technologies, clean energy, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, agritech, climate resilience, and critical minerals.

IIT Roorkee Hosts BIS Standards Excellence Programme:

IIT Roorkee, in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), hosted the BIS Standards Excellence Programme to promote standards-driven research and innovation. The programme brought together academicians, researchers, students, and policymakers and was graced by Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee; Shri Sanjay Pant, Deputy Director General (Standardisation), BIS; Prof. Vivek Malik, Dean SRIC; and Prof. Deepak Khare, BIS Chair Professor. With BIS Student Clubs established across 14 departments, IIT Roorkee became the first BIS MoU partner institution in the country to host such a comprehensive programme, reaffirming its leadership in quality-driven education and research.

IIT Roorkee Celebrates World Environment Day:

Marking World Environment Day, IIT Roorkee organised a 5 km Cyclothon that witnessed enthusiastic participation from more than 500 students, faculty, staff, and members of the community. The event promoted eco-friendly mobility and encouraged sustainable lifestyle choices. It was followed by a plantation drive involving 300 trees, reinforcing the Institute's commitment to environmental conservation and climate action. Through these initiatives, IIT Roorkee continued to inspire its community to adopt greener practices and contribute towards building a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.

IIT Roorkee Concludes 11-Day Yoga Festival:

IIT Roorkee successfully concluded its 11-day Yoga Festival to celebrate International Yoga Day 2026, centred on the theme "Yoga for Healthy Ageing." Organised by the Institute Sports Council, the festival attracted nearly 400 participants each day, including students, faculty, staff, and local residents. The programme featured expert sessions on yoga, pranayama, Ayurveda, meditation, and holistic wellness by Swami Karamveer Maharaj, Ms. Poonam Chopra, Dr. Ashish Sisodiya, Dr. Rudra Bhandari, the Isha Foundation team, and Mr. Mayank Gupta. The celebrations culminated in a mass yoga session led by Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, followed by the nationwide online International Yoga Day programme with Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Ms. Vinita Gupta (B.E. Electronics & Communication Engineering, 1973):

IIT Roorkee alumna Ms. Vinita Gupta has created history as the first woman of Indian origin to take her company public in Silicon Valley. After graduating from IIT Roorkee, she pursued her Master's degree at UCLA, where she was the only woman in her graduating class. In 1985, she founded Digital Link Corporation, which was successfully listed on the Nasdaq in 1994. A visionary entrepreneur, investor, mentor, and holder of two U.S. patents, Ms. Gupta has made significant contributions to the global telecommunications industry. Her inspiring journey reflects innovation, perseverance, and leadership, serving as a source of pride for IIT Roorkee and an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and technology professionals.

Shri Rajeev Krishna (B.E. Electronics & Communication Engineering, 1989):

Shri Rajeev Krishna, an IIT Roorkee alumnus and a 1991-batch IPS officer, has been appointed Director General of Police (DGP), Uttar Pradesh, becoming the state's first permanent police chief in nearly four years. During his distinguished career spanning more than three decades, he has held several key leadership positions and is widely recognised for strengthening technology-driven policing, counter-terrorism initiatives, cybercrime prevention, police modernisation, and transparent recruitment processes. His appointment marks another significant milestone in a career dedicated to public service, professional excellence, and institutional leadership.

Dr. Parul Baranwal (M.Tech. HRED, 2015):

Dr. Parul Baranwal has established herself as a distinguished leader in the global water and environmental sector. She currently serves as Assistant Director in the Water and Pollution Control Department for the City of Ames, Iowa (USA), where she leads initiatives in water management, sustainability, infrastructure planning, and regulatory compliance. Her international career spans key governmental and regulatory roles in both India and the United States. Dr. Baranwal has received several prestigious honours, including the AAEES 40 Under 40 Recognition (2026), the Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum Award, and the WWETT Young Professional Award, reflecting her outstanding contributions to sustainable water management and environmental stewardship.

Mr. Saurav Kumar (B.Tech. Engineering Physics, 2025):

Mr. Saurav Kumar, an IIT Roorkee alumnus and international para swimmer, represented India at the World Disability Snooker Championship 2026 in Thailand. Competing against 54 players from 12 countries, he secured an impressive fifth position, becoming one of the youngest Indian participants and the youngest competitor in the championship. In recognition of his achievement, he received an Appreciation Letter from the Karnataka Disability Billiards & Snooker Association (KDBSA). He has also been selected to represent India at the World Abilitysport Guttmann Games 2026 in Finland, adding another milestone to his inspiring sporting journey.

Mr. Waseem Ahmad Bakshi (B.Tech. Mechanical Engineering, 2025):

Mr. Waseem Ahmad Bakshi, a graduate of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, has emerged as an inspiring role model through his achievements in para sports. Hailing from Drangnar village in Shopian, Jammu & Kashmir, he has successfully balanced academic excellence with sporting pursuits, representing the Jammu & Kashmir Divyang Cricket Team and the North Zone since 2021. His consistent performances earned him opportunities to represent India in Singapore and Team India A at the Kesari Divyang Cricket Tournament. Beyond cricket, Waseem has also excelled in para-athletics, representing Jammu & Kashmir at the National Para Athletics Championship and winning medals at Khel Mahakumbh Uttarakhand and VYOM Purple Fest 2023.

Dr. Ruchir Patidar (M.Tech. & Ph.D. WRDM, 2019 & 2026):

Dr. Ruchir Patidar, Scientist at the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and an IIT Roorkee alumnus, has been conferred the prestigious Hugh Robert Mill Award for Precipitation Research 2025 by the Royal Meteorological Society, UK. The award recognises his outstanding doctoral research at IIT Roorkee under the guidance of Prof. Deepak Khare, focusing on precipitation variability, drought dynamics, and climate resilience. His research contributes significantly to improved drought monitoring and sustainable water resources management. Notably, Dr. Patidar is the first Indian scientist to receive this distinguished award since its inception in the 1950s, marking a proud achievement for both him and the Institute.

IIT Roorkee Partners with Nothing to Strengthen DeepTech Innovation:

IIT Roorkee signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nothing during Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France, to strengthen India's DeepTech innovation ecosystem. The partnership will promote mentorship, startup enablement, industry–academia collaboration, and entrepreneurship. The MoU was signed by Mr. Akis Evangelidis, Co-founder & India President, Nothing, and Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, in the presence of Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon'ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry; Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; and Dr. Harish Salve, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Roorkee. The collaboration aims to nurture innovation and empower the next generation of technology entrepreneurs.

IIT Roorkee Signs MoU with WRI India for Sustainable Mobility and Clean Energy:

IIT Roorkee has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with WRI India to advance research and innovation in sustainable battery ecosystems, electric mobility, circular economy, critical minerals, and clean energy technologies. The agreement was signed by Prof. Vivek Kumar Malik, Dean SRIC, IIT Roorkee, and Mr. Pawan Kumar Mulukutla, Executive Program Director, WRI India, in the presence of Prof. Yogesh Kumar Sharma, Dean of Resources & Alumni Affairs, and Ms. Chaitanya Kanuri, Program Director, Electric Mobility & Batteries, WRI India. Exchanged during Battery Summit 2026, the partnership will promote collaborative research, innovation, and policy engagement to support India's clean energy transition.

IIT Roorkee Expands Industry Collaboration with NAMTECH and AM/NS India:

Strengthening its industry partnerships, IIT Roorkee has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with NAMTECH and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India). The collaborations will support the establishment of the Research and Experiential Learning Centre on Sustainable Energy and Circularity, coordinated by Prof. Andallib Tariq with CSR support from NTPC. The partnership with AM/NS India will further promote collaborative research, advanced manufacturing, green hydrogen, circular economy, executive education, and workforce development. These initiatives reinforce IIT Roorkee's commitment to driving sustainable industrial growth through innovation and industry–academia collaboration.

NTPC School of Business Signs MoU with IIT Roorkee:

NTPC School of Business signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Roorkee to strengthen collaboration in education, research, academic exchange, and capacity building. The MoU was signed by Prof. Gopichandran Ramchandran, Director, NSB, and Prof. Vivek K. Malik, Dean, Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy, IIT Roorkee, in the presence of Ms. Rachana Singh Bhal, Executive Director (Strategic HR & Talent Management) and Head, Power Management Institute, Prof. K. K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, Prof. Rajat Agrawal, Head, Department of Management Studies (DoMS), IIT Roorkee, Dr. Abhinav Jindal, Senior Faculty, Power Management Institute, NTPC, and Dr. Prashant Jha, Assistant Professor, NTPC School of Business. The partnership reflects the shared commitment of NSB and IIT Roorkee to advancing academic excellence, fostering innovation, promoting collaborative research, and strengthening capacity-building initiatives.

'Awareness to Mastery' by Shri Brijesh Chandra Srivastava:

Shri Brijesh Chandra Srivastava (B.E. & M.E. Civil Engineering, 1985 & 1987), Founder & CEO of BridgeMind Consulting, has authored Awareness to Mastery, a thought-provoking guide for students preparing for competitive examinations such as JEE, NEET, UPSC, and CAT. Drawing on neuroscience, ancient Indian wisdom, and decades of mentoring experience, the book highlights the importance of developing a disciplined and resilient mindset for success. Widely appreciated by readers, it has also been featured by The Literature Times through a book review, author feature, and interview. The book serves as a valuable resource for students, parents, educators, and mentors striving to nurture the next generation of achievers.