New Delhi: The 56th Meeting of the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) convened on August 25, 2025, at IIT Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan. The Council unanimously adopted steps to advance Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Atmanirbharta se Samriddha Bharat,’ emphasizing the role of IITs as leaders in innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological self-reliance.
Key Highlights from Shri Dharmendra Pradhan’s Address
Shri Pradhan underscored the imperative for a quantum jump in Indian education and innovation, beyond incremental reforms, in line with the PM’s directive. He called for IITs to:
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Promote Indian regional languages alongside English as mediums of instruction.
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Cultivate job creators, not job seekers, focusing on solving real-world challenges.
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Drive translational research in critical technologies to bolster national priorities.
He highlighted IITs’ remarkable status as engines of growth, hosting over 6,000 start-ups, spawning 56 unicorns, and securing nearly 5,000 patents. Supported by initiatives like the PM Research Fellowship and Centres of Excellence in AI, IITs constitute the backbone of India’s Amrit Kaal aspirations.
Council Deliberations and Future Roadmap
Discussions among members covered an array of pressing themes:
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Ph.D. Education Reform: Enhancing quality, global relevance, research outcomes, and higher global rankings.
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Curriculum Adaptability: Incorporating Artificial Intelligence and real-time pedagogy overhaul through a dedicated Task Force.
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Translational Research and Commercialisation: Strengthening university-industry-policy linkages to translate research into products, with a policy framework planned within a month.
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Alumni Engagement: Leveraging networks for mentorship, industry collaboration, and student development.
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Mental Wellbeing: Sharing of campus models promoting health and annual check-ups.
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Internationalization: Supporting foreign faculty and student internship programs.
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Language Inclusivity: Active promotion of regional languages through courses, translation, and tools like Shivani and Bhashini to enhance learning inclusivity.
Participation and Recognition
The meeting saw the presence of eminent personalities, including:
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Parliamentarians Dr. Rabindra Narayan Behera, Shri Tanuj Punia
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Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Former ISRO Chairman
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Dr. Sridhar Vembu, CEO Zoho Corporation
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Shri Senapathy ‘Kris’ Gopalakrishnan, IISc Council Chair
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Leaders from UGC, AICTE, NITI Aayog, Atal Innovation Mission, and multiple IIT Chairs
A video presentation on the PM’s Independence Day speech outlined how technology and entrepreneurship could realize Atmanirbharta and Samriddha Bharat.
Conclusion
The 56th IIT Council meeting charted a robust roadmap for IITs up to 2047, focusing on innovation-led growth, translational research, global competitiveness, and holistic student development. With a strategic vision aligned to national priorities, IITs stand poised to fuel India’s journey toward becoming a Viksit and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
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Source: PIB
