India, July 15, 2026: Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra marked its 72nd Foundation Day, celebrating a legacy of academic excellence, research, innovation and nation building that began in 1955. The occasion brought together institutional leadership, alumni, faculty, students and distinguished guests to reflect on BIT Mesra’s journey and its continued role in shaping engineering, technology and applied sciences education in India.
The Foundation Day ceremony was graced by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Hon’ble Governor of Jharkhand, as Chief Guest, with Prof. S. Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar, and Shri Madan Mohanka, Chairman, Tega Industries, joining the occasion as Guests of Honour.
As part of the Foundation Day celebrations, BIT Mesra announced the setting up of an NVIDIA powered Centre of Excellence to expand the Institute’s advanced computing and research capabilities. The Centre will provide access to high performance GPU based computing infrastructure and support research, training and industry collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, robotics, VLSI, drug discovery, precision agriculture, semiconductor technologies and other emerging fields.
The announcement reflects BIT Mesra’s larger future readiness agenda, aimed at strengthening its research ecosystem, enabling deeper collaboration between academia and industry and preparing students and researchers for opportunities in advanced technology domains. The Centre of Excellence will be equipped with eight high performance computing systems powered by NVIDIA B200 GPUs and will be made accessible to authorised users through public IP based access, enabling wider participation by faculty, researchers, students, startups and industry partners.
The initiative is aligned with national priorities such as the IndiaAI Mission and the National Semiconductor Mission, and positions BIT Mesra among select institutions contributing to India’s growing capability in advanced computing, semiconductor readiness and emerging technology talent development. It also strengthens the technology and research ecosystem in Jharkhand and eastern India by making advanced infrastructure available beyond just traditional technology hubs.
His Excellency Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Hon’ble Governor of Jharkhand, said, "BIT Mesra’s legacy of academic excellence and innovation has contributed significantly to India’s technological progress. The establishment of the Centre of Excellence in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing will consistently create new learning opportunities for students, researchers and industry in Jharkhand and across India. This initiative will further strengthen BIT Mesra’s role in developing future-ready talent”
Speaking on the occasion, Shri CK Birla, Chancellor, BIT Mesra, said, “BIT Mesra was founded with a clear purpose, to build an institution that serves society through knowledge, discipline and innovation. Over the past seven decades, the Institute has contributed significantly to India’s engineering and technology landscape. As we mark the 72nd Foundation Day, we are also looking ahead to the next phase of institution building. The NVIDIA powered Centre of Excellence is an important step in strengthening our research capabilities and preparing our students and faculty to contribute meaningfully to areas that will define the future of industry and society.”
Prof. Indranil Manna, Vice Chancellor, BIT Mesra, said, “The setting up of the NVIDIA powered Centre of Excellence will significantly enhance our ability to undertake advanced research and training in areas that require high performance computing. It will support interdisciplinary work across engineering, sciences and applied research, while also enabling stronger collaboration with industry, startups and national missions. Our objective is to create a shared technology platform that benefits students, faculty, researchers and the larger innovation ecosystem.”
As part of the Foundation Day celebrations, BIT Mesra honoured distinguished teachers and alumni for their outstanding contributions to academia, research, industry, technology, entrepreneurship and society.
The Distinguished Teacher Awards 2026 were conferred posthumously upon Prof. G.B. Pant, Founder, Department of Space Engineering & Rocketry, and upon Prof. Utpal Baul, Department of Management, and Prof. B.N. Das, Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering.
The Distinguished Alumni Awards 2026 were presented across various categories. In the category of Leadership in the Corporate World, Industry, Academia and Research Institutions, the awardees were Mr. Ashwini Kumar Tewari, B.E. Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Class of 1989; Mr. Rajesh Sharma, B.E. Computer Science and Engineering, Class of 1991; and Mr. Vikram Kumar, B.E. Computer Science and Engineering, Class of 1988.
In the category of Contributions to Engineering, Technology and Entrepreneurship, the awards were presented to Dr. Arup Roy Choudhary, B.E. Civil, Class of 1979, and Mr. Hasmukh Ranjan, B.E. Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Class of 1990.
In the category of Excellence in Teaching and Research in Engineering and Technology, the award was presented to Dr. Chandra Prakash, B.E. Electronics & Communication Engineering, Class of 1988.
In the category of Service to Society in India and Abroad, including support to the alma mater, the award was presented to Mr. Ravindra Kumar Jain, B.E. Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Class of 1996.
The Young Alumnus Award 2026, under the category of Excellence in Teaching and Research in Engineering and Technology, was presented to Dr. Romit Maulik, B.E. Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2012, and Dr. Anamitra Pal, B.E. Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Class of 2008.
The Distinguished Alumna Award 2026, under the category of Contributions to Engineering, Technology and Entrepreneurship, was presented to Ms. Smriti Desai, B.E. Computer Science and Engineering, Class of 1988, and Ms. Sashi Obilisetty, B.E. Electronics & Communication Engineering, Class of 1990.
Established on 15 July 1955, BIT Mesra has grown into one of India’s leading institutions for engineering, technology, management, architecture, pharmacy and applied sciences. Over the years, the Institute has built a strong academic and research foundation, supported by a wide alumni network and a continued focus on innovation and societal impact.
The 72nd Foundation Day served as both a celebration of this legacy and a reaffirmation of BIT Mesra’s commitment to future focused education, research excellence and technology led development.
