DEAN ACR NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 2025

From the Dean's Desk October-2025

Prof. Upendra V. Bhandarkar

Dean – Alumni and Corporate Relations
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering IIT Bombay

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Dear Alumni,

 

Last month, I had the privilege of writing to you for the first time as Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations. The warm responses and encouragement I received from many of you were deeply heartening, and they reaffirmed the strength of the IIT Bombay alumni community. It is with that same sense of connection and purpose that I now write to you again, in this October 2025 edition of our newsletter. Our alma mater has been abuzz with activity, with our faculty, students, and alumni making their mark across diverse fronts. I am pleased to share a few highlights from the past weeks that showcase the energy, innovation, and impact that continue to define IIT Bombay.

 

To begin with, I am delighted to share the Dean ACR Annual Report 2024–25, which is a snapshot of the year gone by and includes our milestones, partnerships, and the many ways the support of alumni, corporate partners, and well wishers has helped IIT Bombay grow. I encourage you to take a look and download the report to see the impact you’ve helped create. As we move forward, we’re also inviting you to give back through the Young Faculty Fund (YFF), an initiative that enables bright young academicians to pursue cutting-edge research at IIT Bombay. Your support can help nurture the next generation of thinkers and innovators who will carry our legacy forward.

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Dean ACR Annual Report

2024-25

LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE



NIRF Rankings

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SPECIAL REPORT

Independence Day

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AIM 2025

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Teacher’s Day

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GIVING BACK



Young Faculty Fellowship

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ALUMNI GIVING







• Ajit Dubhashi


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CORPORATE COLLABORATION



• HDFC ERGO

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT



• Prof. Ganesh Ramakrishnan
• Prof. Pushpak Bhattacharyya
• Prof. Dhimant Vyas
• Prof. Swati Agarwal

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT



• Kshitij Jayakrishnan
• Mitesh Khapra

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ALUMNI STARTUP SPOTLIGHT


• Rifa AI
• Manastu Space
• Parallel Web Systems
• Upliance 2.0

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IITB CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE


• KCDH
• SINE IIT Bombay
• IIT Bombay
• ASPIRE IITB Research Park Foundation
• C-MInDS

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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT


• Microbes Hint at Evolution’s Unsolved Question
• Could the Cold, Dark Oceans Cool our Data Centres?
• Mathematical Model to Test Traffic Control Algorithms
• New Model Decodes Earth Images With Natural Language

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STUDENT-FACULTY RESEARCH COLLABORATION







• IITB’s Flood Forecasting Supports Mumbai During Rains


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STUDENT SUCCESS STORY


• IITB students Map Lunar Chemistry
• IITB Students Top Global Motorsport Stage

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INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS

IIT Bombay Hosts Maharashtra Education Delegation

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Minister of State Dr. Sukanta Majumdar Visits IIT Bombay

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IIT Bombay Hosts Bharat Innovates 2026

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Faculty Accolades

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Coming Soon: LUMINA - A Landmark Initiative for IIT Bombay Women

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INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS PART – 2

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Upcoming Events
Faculty Alumni Network (FAN) 2026

FAN 2026 will bring several of IIT Bombay’s highly accomplished alumni who are in leading positions in academia and industry, together with the senior administration and faculty of IIT Bombay. They will deliberate on strategic matters related to the Institute’s growth as well as emerging areas of research, to nucleate collaborative programmes for mutual impact, […]

Day & Date: Jun 26 - Jun 27, 2026
Venue: TBA
Nashik Alumni Connect

IIT Bombay is pleased to announce the Nashik Alumni Connect in May 2026. Join us to reconnect with fellow alumni, celebrate the IIT Bombay spirit, and be part of engaging conversations and networking opportunities in your city! Date: May 9, 2026 Venue: TBA

Day & Date: May 9, 2026
Venue: TBA

From the Dean's Desk October-2025

Dear Alumni,

 

Last month, I had the privilege of writing to you for the first time as Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations. The warm responses and encouragement I received from many of you were deeply heartening, and they reaffirmed the strength of the IIT Bombay alumni community. It is with that same sense of connection and purpose that I now write to you again, in this October 2025 edition of our newsletter. Our alma mater has been abuzz with activity, with our faculty, students, and alumni making their mark across diverse fronts. I am pleased to share a few highlights from the past weeks that showcase the energy, innovation, and impact that continue to define IIT Bombay.

 

To begin with, I am delighted to share the Dean ACR Annual Report 2024–25, which is a snapshot of the year gone by and includes our milestones, partnerships, and the many ways the support of alumni, corporate partners, and well wishers has helped IIT Bombay grow. I encourage you to take a look and download the report to see the impact you’ve helped create. As we move forward, we’re also inviting you to give back through the Young Faculty Fund (YFF), an initiative that enables bright young academicians to pursue cutting-edge research at IIT Bombay. Your support can help nurture the next generation of thinkers and innovators who will carry our legacy forward.

 

As we celebrate the spirit of giving and collective growth, it’s equally inspiring to see this same drive reflected in the Institute’s own accomplishments. One that stands out is IIT Bombay’s strong performance in the recently announced National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, where IIT Bombay reaffirmed its place among the nation’s top higher education institutions. For a closer look at our performance and what it means for our future, I invite you to read more in the Legacy of Excellence section in the newsletter.

 

Alongside this recognition, the Institute also marked several moments of pride and celebration. From the vibrant Independence Day festivities on campus, to a heartfelt tribute to our faculty on Teacher’s Day, and finally, to the recognition of our community in the Analytics India Magazine (AIM) list of Top AI Leaders 2025, where both our alumni and faculty were prominently featured, these stories capture the spirit of IIT Bombay. You can read more about them in the Special Reports section.

 

Equally inspiring are the contributions of our alumni, such as Ajit Dubhashi, whose support has transformed the Hostel 3 Gym into a modern fitness space. You can read more about his philanthropic donation in the Alumni Giving section. Similarly, our industry partnerships continue to drive innovation, with the IIT Bombay–HDFC ERGO Innovation Lab entering its next phase of growth. More on this milestone can be found in the Corporate Collaboration section.

 

I am delighted to report that this past month, several of our faculty members achieved notable milestones in research, innovation, and creative work, earning recognition on national and international platforms. Their accomplishments are featured in detail in the Faculty Spotlight section. Also, two of our alumni achieved remarkable milestones on national and international platforms, making significant contributions in their fields and demonstrating the global impact of IIT Bombay graduates. Their accomplishments are featured in the Alumni Spotlight section.

 

Our alumni-founded startups continue to make waves across industries, demonstrating the global impact and entrepreneurial spirit of IIT Bombay alumni. This month, we spotlight Rifa AI, Manastu Space, Parallel Web Systems, and Upliance 2.0—ventures that are redefining AI, space technology, and smart living. For more details on their journeys and the transformative impact they are making, check out the Alumni Startup Spotlight section.

 

As always, you’ll also find our regular features, including our Centres of Excellence, Research Spotlight, Student Success Story, Faculty Accolades, Institute News and Highlights, Upcoming Events, and more in this month’s newsletter.

 

As I reflect on the newsletter, I am struck by the ingenuity, creativity, commitment, and impact of the IIT Bombay community. From pioneering research and bold innovations to the extraordinary accomplishments of our faculty and alumni, these milestones showcase how we are shaping the future, not just at IIT Bombay, but for India and the world.

 

I encourage you to dive into the full newsletter, celebrate these achievements with us, and continue to be part of our journey of ideas, impact, and excellence.

 

Warmly,

 

Prof. Upendra V. Bhandarkar
Dean – Alumni and Corporate Relations
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
IIT Bombay