In The Spotlight

The BITS Pilani Effect | BGM 2026

Strength in the BITS Pilani alumni network shows up quietly, through glimpses rather than grand statements. Between January 9 and 11, over a thousand alumni arrived at the Hyderabad campus for the BITSAA Global Meet 2026, carrying memories spanning close to seven decades. Despite distances that stretch across nations and professions, they found their way back, pulled gently by something familiar - something beyond titles or timelines.
That pull? The quiet pulse of what it means to belong to BITS Pilani.

Conversations sparked among unfamiliar faces and quickly deepened. What was once private spread through groups. Ideas moved freely across batches, roles, and lives. Past ambitions crossed paths with new drives; guidance found energy, and energy found direction. One thing stood clear: at BITS, identity links every era under one name.

Three lively days unfolded across the campus, humming with thought and motion. Ideas about shaping nations and ethical tech prompted quiet introspection. Instead of lectures, workshops encouraged making things by doing them. Start-up displays revealed daring approaches, while contests such as Pilani Sharks and Brain of BITS highlighted indigenous solutions. Gratitude surfaced during Gurudakshina, meal times deepened connections among people, yet a Qawwali performance gathered everyone beneath open skies. The air stayed charged - right up until the last moment.

Something caught attention - not the crowd size, yet the energy beneath it. Every exchange quietly reinforced an identity: tied through more than alumni tags, built on automatic teamwork, shaped by purpose that matters. These instances stay beyond their duration, echoing where connection takes root. What lasts isn’t measured in hours, rather in how people recall feeling seen.

BITS Exclusive

Inside the Hackathon Ecosystem at BITS Pilani

Hackathons across BITS Pilani form an integral part of the institute’s academic and innovation ecosystem, emphasising experiential learning, student leadership, and applied problem-solving. Designed as hands-on, high-intensity learning platforms, these hackathons encourage collaboration, technical depth, and real-world application of classroom knowledge, while maintaining a strong academic orientation across all campuses.

At the Pilani campus, hackathons are predominantly student-driven and are concentrated around APOGEE, Asia’s largest student-run technical festival. Individual hackathons typically engage 150–200 participants and are characterised by open-ended problem statements, technical rigour, and strong student ownership over structure, evaluation, and execution, with industry partners playing a supportive, enabling role.

The Hyderabad campus is distinguished by the scale and diversity of its hackathons, conducted across technical and cultural festivals as well as student-led initiatives, with over 1500 student participations annually and a focus on rapid skill development.

At the BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus, the hackathon ecosystem integrates student-run, corporate-supported, and government-linked initiatives. Key events include Zephyr, Quark Hackathon, DevFest, the SIH Internal Hackathon, and the Goa Police Hackathon, a recurring collaboration focused on real-world public safety challenges. These hackathons emphasise applied learning, social impact, and technical depth, while maintaining strong academic oversight and student ownership.

Credits: Students’ Union – Pilani | Council for Student Affairs – Goa | Students’ Union Council – Hyderabad

Government of Goa Entrusts BITS Pilani Goa Campus with DPR for Goa Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster

The Government of Goa has entrusted BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus with the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Goa Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster (GHVIC), marking a significant step in advancing clean-energy research and international collaboration. The Letter of Intent was formally handed over by Dr. Pramod Sawant, Honorable Chief Minister of Goa, to Prof. Suman Kundu, Director, and Prof. Ramakrishna Ramanath Sonde, Senior Professor Emeritus, during India Energy Week 2026 at the ONGC Advanced Training Institute, Goa, in the presence of international dignitaries from the Netherlands.

The six-month DPR, supported by a ₹80 lakh grant and led by Prof. R. R. Sonde with Prof. Shibu Clement and Prof. Abhishek Sharma as co-investigators, will be developed in consortium with the University of Groningen and the Netherlands Innovation Network India, and in coordination with the Goa Energy Development Agency.

The project aims to deliver a globally benchmarked, implementation-ready roadmap covering hydrogen potential assessment, technology pathways, pilot infrastructure planning, and policy alignment with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, positioning Goa as a national reference state for hydrogen-based clean-energy innovation.

Faculty Spotlight

Faculty Spotlight | Industry–Academia Partnerships as Catalysts for Innovation

Dr. Arkamitra Kar, Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus, in collaboration with Aakash Shukla, Tata Steel Limited, presents a thought-leadership perspective on how industry–academia partnerships can catalyse start-up growth and applied innovation. The work emphasises bridging the gap between laboratory research and industrial deployment by aligning academic inquiry with industry needs, positioning start-ups as effective vehicles for translating cutting-edge research into scalable, market-ready solutions.

By combining academic originality with industrial pragmatism and drawing on global examples in advanced materials, sustainable infrastructure, and interdisciplinary technologies, the collaboration highlights the role of such ecosystems in driving innovation, influencing policy, strengthening skill development, and preparing students and researchers for future-ready, innovation-driven careers.

Student Spotlight

Advancing Cancer Research: BITS Pilani Dubai Student Wins Second Place for CRPC Study

We are proud to share that Shristi Mukerjee, an undergraduate student from BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus, secured 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 in the 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀) at the 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀), held at Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi.

Her research focused on 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 (𝗖𝗥𝗣𝗖), investigating the role of the 𝗔𝗥-𝗩𝟳 androgen receptor variant and its interaction with 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿-𝟭 as a potential therapeutic target. This work was carried out as part of her undergraduate thesis in the Department of Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani)-Dubai, under the guidance of Prof. Debostuti Ghoshdastidar, using advanced computational approaches.

BITS Alumni Awards: Excellence and Service

Congratulations to the honourees of the Distinguished Alumnus Award (DAA), Distinguished Service Award (DSA), and Young Alumni Award (YAA), whose paths of excellence and service uphold the values of BITS Pilani.

Suhane Pal

Gurudakshina 2026: Honouring the Gurus Who Shaped Generations of BITSians

The Gurudakshina ceremony was held on January 11, 2026, as part of BGM 2026 (BITSAA Global Meet) at the BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus. This initiative has been Instituted by the BITS 75 Charitable Trust ( managed by 70-75 batch) which honours retired faculty members for their lifelong contributions to BITS Pilani and its academic legacy. This year, five distinguished Gurus, Prof. B. R. Natarajan, Prof. R. N. Saha, Prof. C. S. Shastry, Prof. V. S. Rao, and Prof. Raghurama, were felicitated, continuing a tradition that has recognised 51 professors over 17 years. The ceremony stands as a heartfelt tribute to the Gurus who shaped generations of BITSians and reaffirms the enduring bond between the institute, its alumni, and their mentors. It is the intent of the Trust to make efforts to institutionalise this as an annual event in BITS calendar.

Events Gallery

BITS Pilani Welcomes Indian Army Officers for Third Cohort of MDP on IT, Inventory & Accounting

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, is honoured to welcome officers of the IndianArmy for the Third Cohort of the Management Development Programme (MDP) on IT, Inventory Management, and Accounting.

The programme was inaugurated on 19 January 2026 by Prof. Sudhirkumar V Barai, Director, Pilani Campus, and Col. Soumyabrata Chakraborty, Registrar, in the presence of other distinguished dignitaries.

Jointly designed and delivered by the Department of Management and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the MDP is coordinated by Prof. Srikanta Routroy, Prof. Satyendra Sharma, and Prof. Saurabh Chadha. Conducted under an MoU with the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), the programme is part of a long-term collaboration to deliver multiple cohorts over the next three years.

The third cohort comprises 50 Junior Commissioned Officers from diverse regiments across the country. BITSPilani warmly welcomes the participants and wishes them a meaningful and enriching learning experience.

Introducing Young Minds to Digital Marketing on National Startup Day 2026

On the occasion of National Startup Day 2026, BGIIES - BITS Goa Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship Society in collaboration with Institute Innovation Council, BITS Goa organized an interactive session on Digital Marketing for school students across Goa.

The programme introduced students to digital marketing basics, online branding, and how startups use digital tools to build and scale businesses. Students also visited BGIIES Innovation Lab, gaining exposure to entrepreneurship, startups, and innovation-driven ventures.

At BGIIES, we believe that early exposure to entrepreneurship and digital skills plays a key role in shaping future innovators and problem-solvers. We thank the participating schools, students, and facilitators for their enthusiastic participation.

Literary Fest 2026 – Stories from the Roots at BITS Pilani

The campus of BITS Pilani came alive with thoughtful conversations and the quiet power of stories. 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 – 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 brought together BITSian authors Mr. Harish Bhat,

Dr. Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra Ph. D., Baskar Ayer, Neha Goel and Saumya Prakash, creating a space for reflection, insight, and shared learning.

Hosted by the BITS Pilani Library, in collaboration with the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, BITS Pilani, the event felt less like a programme and more like a meaningful exchange of ideas.

Advancing Learning Through Academia–Industry Collaboration

The Department of Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani)-Dubai recently had the privilege of hosting Dr. Naseem Charoo to co-deliver the 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 elective for our 3rd and 4th-year BE Biotechnology students.

Dr. Charoo brings over 20 years of experience in Formulation Research and Development, Drug Delivery, Validation, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Control and Assurance, Project Management, and Lean Manufacturing. He has worked extensively across the pharmaceutical industry in roles such as Chief Scientific Officer, Vice President-Technical Operations, Project/Plant Head, Technical Manager, Senior Manager-Innovation & Development, Research Scientist, and multiple technical advisory positions.

With a strong research background, including 𝟕𝟎+ 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 and significant contributions such as developing biowaiver monographs, leading WHO prequalification, and supporting global ANDA submissions, Dr. Charoo brought valuable real-world insights to our students. His expertise in QbD, risk management, biopharmaceutics, pediatric formulation development, and GMP compliance enriched classroom learning and offered students a deeper understanding of current pharmaceutical development practices.

Prof. Sounak Roy Awarded the Prestigious CRS Silver Medal

Prof. Sounak Roy, Department of Chemistry, BITS-Pilani Hyderabad Campus and Dean- Research & Innovation, BITS Pilani, has been honoured with the CRS Silver Medal by the Chirantan Rasayan Sanstha (CRS) in recognition of his outstanding achievements in Research and Innovation.

As part of this honour, Prof. Roy delivered an Award Lecture at the International Symposium “Science Beyond Boundary: Invention, Discovery, Innovation, and Society - Rasayan 22”.

Prof. Roy’s research spans catalysis for alternate energy and environmental applications, nanomaterials, and solid-state inorganic chemistry, with strong emphasis on translating fundamental science into impactful technologies.

Congratulations to Prof. Roy on this well-deserved recognition and for continuing to advance excellence in research and innovation at BITS Pilani.

Congratulations to FMaC, BITS Goa!

After more than a decade of participation and several nominations, the Filmmaking Club BITS Goa, has won the Silver Short Script of the Year Award at the Indian Film Project (IFP) 50-Hour Writing Challenge. Competing with over 50,000 creators from across the world, this achievement highlights the hard work, creativity, and determination of our students.

Scriptwriting Team: Anannya Deodhar · Aamil Finoj · Harvansh Singh · Kaustubh Ghate. They wrote the winning script within an intense 50-hour deadline.
Coordinating Team: Sohan Mutra · Arjun Gautam · Ayush Agarwal · Umika Joshi · Siddharth Mishra · Rudra Molasaria. Thank you to the coordinating team for smoothly handling all logistics behind the scenes. Our sincere thanks to Prof. Suman Kundu, Director BITS Pilani - K.K. Birla Goa Campus, and the Council for Student Affairs (CSA) for their constant support and encouragement.

Innovation & Collaboration

APPCAIR Workspace inaugurated at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus is proud to announce the opening of the APPCAIR Workspace, a dedicated research and collaboration facility under the Anuradha and Prashanth Palakurthi Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐂𝐀𝐈𝐑).

This marks a significant step in strengthening the campus’s focus on Artificial Intelligence, interdisciplinary research, and industry engagement. The workspace was inaugurated by Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani, in the presence of Prof. Dharmarajan Sriram, Director-in-Charge, BITS Hyderabad Campus, along with senior leadership from across BITS Pilani, including Prof. Sudhirkumar V Barai Direcor, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Prof. Souri Banerjee Director, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, Prof. Arya Kumar Dean of Alumni Relations, Prof. Sounak Roy Dean of Reserach & Innovation, and Prof. Paresh Saxena (Head, CSIS, BITS Hyderabad).

APPCAIR leadership was represented by Prof. Snehanshu Saha (Head, APPCAIR) and Prof. Manik Gupta (Associate Head – Hyderabad). APPCAIR was established through the generous support of distinguished alumni Anuradha and Prashanth Palakurthi, with the vision of advancing cutting-edge AI research, fostering academia-industry collaboration, and nurturing future-ready talent. The Hyderabad Campus workspace will serve as a hub for innovation, research translation, and student-faculty collaboration in AI and related domains. We look forward to the impactful research, partnerships, and breakthroughs that will emerge from this new facility.

Strengthening Industry–Academia Collaboration: BITS Hyderabad Partners with ATI Motors

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ati Motors, marking a significant step forward in industry–academia collaboration in the field of robotics and autonomous systems.

This partnership will drive research and development in autonomous mobile robots, intelligent robotic platforms, and AI-enabled industrial automation. Faculty and researchers from BITS Hyderabad are already working with ATI Motors on improving the stability, performance, and operational safety of robotic machines in real-world industrial environments.

The collaboration will open up avenues for joint research projects, student internships, shared laboratory facilities, and co-development of deployable technologies for manufacturing and logistics sectors — ensuring that innovation translates into practical impact.

The MoU was signed by Prof. D Sriram, Director, BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus, and Dr. Naveen Arulselvan, CTO, ATI Motors. This partnership reinforces BITS Hyderabad’s commitment to applied deep-tech research, strong industry engagement, and nurturing future-ready talent in advanced robotics.

BITS Pilani Inaugurates the Dhigha Sekaran Classroom in the New Academic Block

The Dhigha Sekaran Classroom in the New Academic Block was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao in the gracious presence of Mr. Dhigha Sekaran (Batch of 1995),

his family, and esteemed members of the academic community, in Room No. 6109. The ceremony commenced with a plaque unveiling and ribbon cutting, followed by a warm welcome address by Prof. Udayan Chanda, Associate Dean, Alumni Relations. Insightful addresses by Vice Chancellor Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao and Dean of Alumni Relations Prof. Arya Kumar highlighted the significance of alumni contributions in enhancing academic infrastructure and enriching learning spaces on campus.

This inauguration signifies more than the opening of a classroom; it reflects our shared commitment to building meaningful learning environments and recognising the individuals whose support helps shape the future of education.

Voices of Our Students

At BITS Pilani, student experiences reflect the strength and flexibility of our academic ecosystem.

Amey Sayankar,
A Merit Scholarship awardee from the Pilani campus, began in B.E. Mechanical Engineering and later transitioned to Electronics and Communication Engineering, enabled by consistent academic performance.

Shreejal Singh,
From the 1st cohort of the BITS–RMIT Academy (B.E. Mechanical Engineering), represents a new model of global engineering education, offering insights from her cross-border academic experience.