In The Spotlight
APOGEE & SPREE 2026: An April owned entirely by students.
At BITS Pilani, April 2026 belonged to students who turned campuses into arenas of ambition, creativity, resilience, and brilliance.
At the Pilani Campus, APOGEE 2026 (10–14 April) brought innovation to life. Even before the festival began, ADP students were already transforming walls under “Under Steel Skies,” setting the tone for what followed. Inaugurated by Prof. Sudhir Kumar V. Barai, Director, BITS Pilani Pilani Campus; Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi; and Padma Shri Prahlada Rama Rao, the 44th edition of Asia’s largest student-run technical festival became four days of ideas, experimentation, and limitless energy. APOGEE showed what happens when students are trusted to imagine bigger and build fearlessly.
At the same time, BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus carried that same intensity onto the field with SPREE 2026 (1–5 April). Inaugurated by Prof. Suman Kundu, Director, BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus, and Prof. Meenal Kowshik, Dean of Administration, the festival brought together athletes from across the country competing with unmatched passion. The same campus that arrived at InterBITS Sports Meet 2025 without a swimming pool still emerged overall runners-up, swept the swimming championship, and saw Neel Ghate crowned Best Swimmer. SPREE became more than a sports fest. It became a celebration of grit, belief, and the refusal to back down.
BITS Exclusive
Six Decades, One Spirit: BITS Alumni Launch US $500,000 Scholarship Initiative
BITS Pilani has announced three new scholarships worth US $500,000, funded by alumni spanning six decades, Prof. Krishna Saraswat (1963), Rickey/Nielsen Professor at Stanford; Mr. S.K. Roongta (1966), former Chairman of SAIL; and alumni couple Mr. Krishna Sridhar and Ms. Arushi Aggarwal (2005).
The scholarships offer merit and merit-cum-need support to deserving students, bringing BITS Pilani’s alumni-funded scholarships to over 300. Group Vice Chancellor Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao noted that alumni stepping forward across generations reflects a deep belief in the transformative power of education. Prof. Arya Kumar, Dean of Alumni Relations, called it “the BITSian spirit at its very best.”
Welcoming Our New Faculty – April 2026
This April, BITS Pilani welcomed new faculty members across the Goa, Hyderabad and Dubai campuses. With their diverse expertise and strong academic and research backgrounds, they bring fresh ideas and new energy to our classrooms and research community.
Dr. Abeer Mutto
Assistant Professor,
Chemical engineering,
Dubai Campus
Dr. Fatima Vapiwala
Assistant Professor,
Management Studies
Dubai Campus
Dr. Harsha K V
Assistant Professor, Gr-I
Mathematics,
Hyderabad Campus
Prof. Prabuddha Sinha
Assistant Professor, Gr-I
Computer Sci & Information Sys,
Hyderabad Campus
Prof. Priyank Oza
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of General Sciences -Mathematics
Dubai Campus
Prof. Vijay Joshi
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of EEE
Goa Campus
Research Stories
Research from BITS Pilani Earns Front Cover of ACS Energy & Fuels
A review on electrochemical CO₂ reduction by students/researchers Jyotiraditya Sikder, Jithul KP, and Prof. Jay Pandey from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Pilani Campus, has been featured on the front cover of ACS Energy & Fuels, Volume 40, Issue 15.
The work connects atomic-scale catalyst structure to real-world performance using electron microscopy, atomistic simulations, and electronic-structure calculations. It maps the catalyst materials — Cu, Ag, and Au — to specific value-added products and outlines pathways to scale CO₂ reduction technologies from lab to industrial deployment.
Student Spotlight
101 Teams, One Arena: BITS Pilani (Pilani Campus) Conducts Mega Coding Contest
BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, witnessed its largest-ever coding contest, with freshmen to seniors from every bhawan competing simultaneously on a single platform. Organized by the Coding Club BITS Pilani through their Code Duel portal, the contest was built by Siddhant Attavar (problem set) and Aditya Guneja and Rohan S. (operations), with Chirag Gupta, Nikunj Agarwal, and Parth Singh Kushwah anchoring planning. The initiative was guided by Sajal Yadav, President, Students' Union, BITS Pilani.
101 teams battled through three hours of high-intensity problem-solving. Cash prizes, EaseMyTrip vouchers, trophies, and certificates were awarded across academic years and hostels. The felicitation ceremony was graced by Dean of Administration Prof. Muralidhar Rao N V, Associate Dean Prof. Navin Singh, Chief Warden Prof. Rajesh Mishra, Prof. Sharad Shrivastava, Prof. Yashvardhan Sharma, HoD of CSIS, and Prof. Virendra Shekhawat. A contest that established a new benchmark for competitive programming on campus.
Alumni Spotlight
BITS Alumni - Mr. Minesh Upadhyaya
Mr. Minesh Upadhyaya Batch of 1997 (Biological Sciences), continues to inspire through innovation and leadership. As the Founder & CEO of Round The Clock Technologies, he supported APOGEE 2026 as our Technology Partner, bringing mentorship and real-world industry insights to student innovators. His journey reflects the true BITSian spirit, learning, building, and giving back to empower future generations
Suhane Pal
EmpowHER - An alumni-funded fellowship initiative at BITS Design School, Mumbai
A three-day fellowship at BITS Design School (BITSDES), Mumbai, brought together young women for sessions spanning leadership, AI, and self-awareness. Ms. Sukhnandan Vohra led discussions on leadership and decision-making; Ms. Amrithaa S. Punjabi (JioHotstar) and panelists Ms. Somya Sinha (Stealth AI Startup), Ms. Shraddha G. (AI Consultant), and Ms. Doorva Bahuguna (Sentinos) opened conversations on AI. Prof. Sachendra Yadav (Professor of Practice, BITSDES) covered AI tools and responsible engagement; Prof. Anuradha Narasimhan covered personal branding; Ms. Arti Gupta covered imposter syndrome. Prof. Nandita Abraham (Dean, BITSDES) closed with a candid conversation on self-belief and uncertainty.
The fellowship concluded with participants planting a sapling together, a fitting close to three days of growth.
Wellbeing & Support
Not every struggle is visible.
Sometimes, the strongest people in the room are quietly carrying self-doubt, exhaustion, pressure, and uncertainty while still showing up every day. Academic and career journeys are rarely linear, and feeling overwhelmed is a deeply human experience.
Progress is not measured only by grades, deadlines, or outcomes, but also by the courage and resilience it takes to keep moving forward. Rest without guilt, celebrate small victories, and stay connected to people who support you. As we navigate challenges in our personal and professional lives, communicating our needs clearly also matters.
One helpful strategy is DEARMAN = Describe the situation using facts, Express your feelings, Assert your needs, Reinforce the benefits, stay Mindful of your goal, Appear confident, and Negotiate for solutions that work for everyone. Remember, seeking support is strength, and asking for help is a sign of courage and self-awareness.
Wellness-In-Charge
Mr. Asish Pratim Borah
Pilani Campus
9810699804
Ms. Sahithi Mannar
Goa Campus9391503391
Ms. Shivani Sharma
Hyderabad Campus9133394605
Events Gallery
BITS Pilani (Pilani Campus) Hosts International Conference on Sustainable Materials
The Department of Chemistry at BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, successfully held the International Conference on Nano and Functional Materials (NFM-2026) on 17–18 April 2026.
The conference brought together renowned researchers, academicians, and industry experts to discuss recent advances in nanoscience, green chemistry, biosensors, sustainable materials, and biomedical applications. Through keynote talks, technical sessions, and engaging discussions, NFM-2026 served as a vibrant platform for collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange toward a sustainable future.
BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus Hosts CERT-In Samvaad 2026
A three-day national cybersecurity conference organised by CERT-In, from 27–29 April 2026. Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, inaugurated the conference alongside senior officials from CERT-In, Goa Police, and BIRD.
Over 350 cybersecurity experts, auditors, and policymakers convened to strengthen India's digital security framework. Key launches included AMBAK, a blockchain-enabled framework to standardise cybersecurity audits, and an Advanced Cybersecurity Certification Course by CERT-In in collaboration with NABARD and BIRD. Dr. Sawant stressed the importance of systems that are "secure, resilient, and future-ready."
Grant Proposal Writing Workshop | BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus
BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus hosted a one-day workshop on grant proposal writing on 18 April 2026, organised by AGSRD BITS Pilani.
Senior research scholars and young faculty members attended expert-led lectures, discipline-specific parallel sessions, and a hands-on proposal development task. Distinguished speakers Dr. Srivari Chandrasekhar, Prof. T.P. Radhakrishnan, and Prof. Chandra Shekhar Sharma shared perspectives on crafting proposals aligned with funding agency expectations.
Participants left with stronger grounding in proposal structuring, ideation, and strategic positioning for research funding.
Innovation & Collaboration
BITS Pilani and SMC Join Hands to Build the Future of Smart Manufacturing in India
BITS Pilani and SMC (India) Pvt. Ltd. have signed an MoU to establish a Centre of Excellence in Mechatronics, Industrial Automation, and Industry 4.0 Technologies.
SMC's contribution of ₹4.5 Crore reflects a shared belief in what research-led education can do for Indian manufacturing.
The Centre will work at the intersection of research, skilling, and entrepreneurship in deep-tech manufacturing. The agreement was formalised in the presence of Prof. V Ramgopal Rao (Group Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani), Col. Soumyabrata Chakraborty (Retd.) (Registrar, BITS Pilani), Ms. Pinky Singh (Company Secretary, SMC India), Mr. Kaushal Kapoor (CSR Head, SMC India), and other dignitaries.
BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus Welcomes Newcastle University Delegation
The International Programmes and Collaboration Division (IPCD), BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, hosted a delegation from Newcastle University, UK on 13 April 2026.
The delegation comprised Dr. Sanjana Medipally, Acting Head of International Relations and Partnerships, and Prof. Barry Hodgson, Deputy Director, National Innovation Centre for Data.
The visit included discussions with Prof. Sriram, Director In-charge, Prof. A. Vasan, Dean Administration, and Prof. I. Sreedhar, Associate Dean, IPCD, on potential academic and research collaborations. The delegation also interacted with computer science faculty and research scholars, toured the department's labs, and explored opportunities for joint programmes and collaborative publications.
BITS Pilani Goa Campus Launches ‘Imaginarium’ to Showcase Student Innovation
BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus has launched the Imaginarium Initiative, a dedicated exhibition space at the entrance of the CS Department to showcase student-led computational projects and research.
The initiative was inaugurated by Prof. Suman Kundu, Director; Prof. Meenal Kowshik, Dean Administration; and Prof. Bharat Deshpande, HoD CSIS. At launch, the team showcased six student projects that spanned campus navigation, course registration, algae analysis, AI-assisted departmental workflows, buggy tracking, and GPS-free WiFi routing. The event reflects the breadth of innovation within the department.
Imaginarium is envisioned as a living hub where student ideas are continuously built, showcased, and experienced.
BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus Signs MoU with SaveLIFE Foundation
BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, has signed an MoU with SaveLIFE Foundation to advance research, policy, and on-ground interventions in road safety.
The Transportation Research Innovation Analysis Lab (TRIAL) will collaborate on crash analysis, infrastructure safety assessments, road safety audits, and evidence-based policy research with students and faculty engaging through live projects, internships, and high-impact publications.
The partnership also encompasses training programmes and knowledge-sharing sessions, with the broader aim of developing scalable solutions to support India's road safety goals.
BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus Marks 20 Years
On 28 April 2026, BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus celebrated its 20th Foundation Day, two decades of academic excellence, innovation, and community.
The evening brought together faculty, staff, and the campus community to recognise long-serving members, including those completing 15 years of service, dedicated outsourced staff, and colleagues superannuating in 2026. Best Employee Awards were presented, and the 4th edition of BITStory was launched.
A milestone that reflects the people, values, and work that have defined BITS Hyderabad over two decades.
FD Preference Form Submission – Mandatory for BITSAT Aspirants
If you have appeared for BITSAT Session 1 or are planning to take Session 2, submitting the FD Preference Form is mandatory to complete your course and campus preferences for admission at BITS Pilani. The form is also essential for scholarship consideration, with BITS Pilani committing ₹200+ Crores towards merit, need-based, and merit-cum-need scholarships, including support of up to 100% tuition for four years. Also, the form is important for your course choices including 2+2 programs being offered in partnership with international institution partners.
Submit your Preference Form before the deadline: 1 June 2026, 5:00 PM IST.
