IIT Bombay celebrated International Women’s Day on March 7, 2025, with a powerful panel discussion titled “Breaking Barriers: Wisdom from Inspiring Alumnae Who Lead.”
The event featured an inspiring lineup of distinguished alumnae who shared their journeys, challenges, and reflections on leadership across diverse domains:
Ms. Damini Kumari (B.Tech., Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, 1991), former TV presenter and Leadership Coach
Each speaker brought a unique perspective to the conversation, offering insight into navigating personal and professional challenges and redefining success on their own terms. As Ms. Damini Kumari aptly remarked, “The biggest roadblock is often the one we create for ourselves. Believe in yourself, take the leap—and watch the world open up.”
The event also included a heartfelt felicitation ceremony to honour the contributions of women colleagues who are superannuating in 2025 in recognition of their dedication and service to the Institute.
As IIT Bombay celebrated the achievements of its alumnae and colleagues, it reaffirmed its commitment to advancing gender equity, supporting women in science and technology, and creating inclusive spaces that empower every individual to thrive. Through continued dialogue, opportunity, and mentorship, the Institute remains steadfast in its mission to inspire the next generation of women leaders in STEM.
IIT Bombay was a key participant at IInvenTiv 2025, a premier R&D faire that brought together IITs, NITs, IISERs, and the country’s top-ranked institutions. Held at IIT Madras, the event showcased cutting-edge innovations driving India’s technological progress.
The Honourable Minister of State for Education, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, inaugurated the event. Academicians, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders participated, including Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, who led the Institute’s delegation.
IIT Bombay’s exhibits spanned critical domains such as aviation, space, defence, AI/ML, advanced manufacturing, sustainability, smart infrastructure, and marine technology. The six featured innovations by IIT Bombay’s faculty included:
Prof. Kasturi Saha (Department of Electrical Engineering) – A portable magnetometer using diamond colour defects for high-precision sensing applications.
Prof. Smrutiranjan Parida (Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science) – Thin temperature shielding, sound-insulating, and corrosion-resistant coatings for industrial and defence applications.
Prof. Preeti Rao (Department of Electrical Engineering) – An AI tool for oral reading fluency assessment designed to enhance literacy education.
Prof. Prasanna Gandhi (Department of Mechanical Engineering) – Spanda 1, India’s first 3D SLA micro-printer, enabling high-precision microfabrication.
Prof. V. Jothiprakash (Department of Civil Engineering) – A system for removing floating debris in open water channels aimed at improving waterway cleanliness.
Prof. Leena Vachhani (Centre for Systems and Control Engineering) – Tow-fish technology for efficient pipeline inspection in underwater environments.
The exhibits drew interest from several distinguished visitors, including:
Prof. Kamakoti Veezhinathan, Director of IIT Madras
Mr. Anil Sharma, Head-Corporate Incubation, TCS
With a legacy of pioneering research, IIT Bombay continues to develop transformative technologies that address national and global challenges. By fostering collaboration between academia and industry, the Institute remains a powerhouse of innovation, shaping a smarter, more sustainable future.
IIT Bombay successfully hosted ICONS 2025, a two-day workshop on Defence Technologies on campus. The theme of the event was ‘Better and Faster Tech for Defence.’ Organized as part of National Science Day 2025, the event brought together leading experts from the armed forces, industry, and academia to discuss cutting-edge advancements shaping the future of defence.
Key speakers included:
General Manoj C. Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC (Retd.), Former Chief of the Army Staff, who emphasized the crucial role of technological advancements in modern warfare.
Air Chief Marshal Vivek R. Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC (Retd.), Former Chief of the Air Staff, who highlighted the impact of technology on military operations and national security.
Air Vice Marshal Dhananjay V. Khot, AVSM, VM (Retd.), shared insights on military readiness for next-generation warfare.
Neelesh Tungar, Whole-Time Director & CEO of Kalyani Strategic Systems, discussed aligning innovation with defence strategies.
Prof. Milind D. Atrey, Deputy Director (Academics, Research & Translation), IIT Bombay, showcased the Institute’s robust innovation and translational research ecosystem.
Sessions held during the two days covered a range of critical topics, including:
High-performance materials for defence applications, such as advanced propellants, high-energy density materials, ceramics, and AI-driven propellant formulations.
Digital technologies in military operations, focusing on AI-driven intelligence gathering, cybersecurity, cognitive warfare, and drone-based intelligence.
Smart defence and logistics, exploring IoT-driven smart assets, AI-powered maintenance, and digital twin technology for aviation and defence applications.
The event also featured prototypes and poster presentations by IIT Bombay faculty and startups, showcasing cutting-edge defence technologies. With nearly 200 attendees, ICONS 2025 fostered dynamic discussions, knowledge exchange, and strategic collaborations, paving the way for a more secure and resilient future.
ICONS 2025 reinforces IIT Bombay’s pivotal role in advancing defence technologies through innovation, research, and collaboration. By bringing together experts across sectors, the Institute continues to drive impactful solutions for a stronger, tech-driven national security ecosystem.
IIT Bombay is spearheading India’s push into generative AI with BharatGen, a pioneering Large Language Model (LLM) initiative that was prominently highlighted by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the AI Summit in Paris. Developed under the Technology Innovation Hub at IIT Bombay and supported by the Department of Science & Technology under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NMICPS), BharatGen is creating India-centric foundational models in language, speech, and images.
BharatGen has made rapid strides in AI research and data, focusing on India’s linguistic and cultural diversity. It has already developed over 2 billion parameter text models for Hindi and English, with 5 billion parameter models in progress for 13 Indian languages. The initiative is also advancing text-to-speech and speech generation technologies, including unique speaker style transfer models. Automatic Speech Recognition models have been developed from the ground up, leveraging the foundational work of Bhashini.
With a strong focus on national priorities, BharatGen is driving AI applications across governance, agriculture, legal frameworks, and education. By building a custom India-centric AI stack, it aims to ensure seamless deployment across both the public and private sectors. BharatGen will closely collaborate with the India AI Mission as a national project, adopting a whole-of-government approach to accelerate India’s AI ecosystem.
As IIT Bombay leads the charge in shaping India’s AI future, BharatGen is positioning the nation as a global powerhouse in generative AI.
Watch the video below to see how this initiative is transforming India’s technological landscape.
IIT Bombay has made an impressive leap in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, strengthening its position as a global leader in engineering and technology education. The Institute now ranks 28th worldwide in the broad category of Engineering & Technology, reflecting its growing international stature and academic excellence.
Highlights from the 2025 rankings:
Ranked 28th globally in Engineering & Technology
Ranked 40th globally in Engineering – Mineral and Mining
Ranked 50th globally in Engineering – Electrical and Electronic
Employer reputation score: 88.6 — a strong indicator of IIT Bombay’s industry relevance and graduate employability
These achievements are a testament to IIT Bombay’s commitment to cutting-edge research, exceptional faculty, and industry engagement. As global rankings become increasingly competitive, IIT Bombay’s upward trajectory reflects its ability to stay ahead through innovation, academic rigor, and world-class talent.
IDC IIT Bombay recently hosted the WAVES AFC Masterclasses initiative with a workshop titled “IDEA TO IMPACT – A Stellar Pitch Deck Masterclass,” led by renowned writer-director Ms. Saraswathi Buyyala. The session aimed at empowering emerging storytellers in animation, film, and gaming, with a focus on how technology is transforming the creative landscape.
Participants explored the fundamentals of storytelling, from crafting compelling narratives to developing effective pitches, while also delving into the role of emerging technologies like AI in revolutionizing filmmaking and animation. The workshop emphasized the importance of universal emotions in storytelling and the need for stronger collaboration between India’s film and animation industries.
Ms. Buyyala encouraged students to experiment, collaborate, and start creating mini-series to gain industry exposure. The event concluded with a call to action for students to take Indian stories to the global stage, showcasing the potential of mediums like films, animation, VFX, and games in elevating Indian talent internationally.
For more information on upcoming competitions and initiatives, visit wavesindia.org.
Through initiatives like WAVES 2025, IIT Bombay continues to demonstrate that it is more than just a technology institute. By fostering innovation in fields like animation, film, and storytelling, the Institute highlights its commitment to the humanities and creative industries. IIT Bombay uses technology not only to advance engineering and science but also to promote a well-rounded, interdisciplinary approach that nurtures the next generation of global storytellers and innovators.
IIT Bombay hosted the much-anticipated SUSTAIN 5.0 event, focusing on renewable energy and sustainability. During his keynote address, Dr. Faruk G. Patel, Chairman and Managing Director of KP Group, spoke about the challenges and opportunities India faces in achieving its ambitious goal of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. He described this target as extraordinary but achievable, emphasizing that innovation will be key to overcoming hurdles.
The theme of the event was “Rethink the Choices, React to the Changes, Rebuild the Future,” and it brought together industry leaders, academia, and sustainability advocates to discuss crucial environmental issues and the future of renewable energy in India.
The event also featured thought-provoking sessions, such as Prof. K.V.K. Rao’s presentation on the Avoid, Shift, and Improve framework and Mr. Ramamoorthy Sankaranarayanan’s insights on sustainable public transport. In addition, the launch of a recycled paper newsletter and a Carbon Footprint Calculator underscored the event’s commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility.
The event concluded with dignitaries lighting solar-powered diyas, symbolizing hope for a greener, more sustainable future.
SUSTAIN 5.0 at IIT Bombay successfully highlighted the critical role of innovation in achieving India’s renewable energy goals. With key insights from experts, the event reinforced the urgency of sustainable solutions and the importance of collaboration in driving India’s green future.
Prof. Koen Lamberts, President, University of Sheffield (UoS), UK, along with senior representatives from the university, visited IIT Bombay. They met with IIT Bombay leadership including Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, Deputy Directors Prof. Milind Atrey and Prof. K.V.K Rao, and Prof. Sudarshan Kumar, Dean, International Relations.
The University of Sheffield is one of IIT Bombay’s key partners. With a focus on continuing to strengthen their ongoing partnership, both institutions explored dual-degree programmes at the PhD and Master’s levels, enhancing joint research collaborations across various disciplines, and organizing summer schools to promote academic exchanges.
The delegation participated in a research workshop with faculty members from the Department of Energy Science and Technology and the Department of Electrical Engineering. The workshop focused on Power Electronics, Energy Storage & Conversion, and Process Engineering Modelling & Simulations. The workshop also explored opportunities for both Institutes to enhance their existing collaborations, which, in turn, would strengthen the mobility of both the students and faculty.
The visit reaffirmed the strong academic ties between IIT Bombay and the University of Sheffield, paving the way for deeper collaboration in research, education, and student exchange. As both institutions work towards expanding joint initiatives, this partnership continues to foster innovation, knowledge sharing, and global academic excellence.
