IIT Kharagpur Platinum Jubilee: Week-long fest marks 75 years of excellence
Synopsis
India's oldest IIT is turning 75 — and it is not just celebrating, it is asking hard questions about what the IITs need to become. With ISRO's chief, a NITI Aayog member, and unicorn founders in the room, IIT Kharagpur's Platinum Jubilee is as much a national policy conversation as a campus milestone.
Key Takeaways
IIT Kharagpur is observing its Platinum Jubilee with a week-long celebration beginning 21 August .
Key themes included 'Next Gen IITians for Viksit Bharat' and reimagining the IIT ecosystem for global relevance.
Distinguished attendees included ISRO Chairman V.
Narayanan , Sri Sri Ravi Shankar , and NITI Aayog member Gobardhan Das .
IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty outlined the institute's future plans and strategic direction.
Events include a Hackathon , Innovation Challenge , deep-tech showcases, and sessions with venture capitalists and unicorn founders.
Significant institutional announcements and award conferments marked the Foundation Day .
IIT Kharagpur, India's oldest Indian Institute of Technology, is marking its Platinum Jubilee with a week-long celebration that blends campus festivities with high-stakes intellectual discourse on the future of technical education. The event, observed on 21 August, brings together alumni, policymakers, scientists, and entrepreneurs to reflect on 75 years of institutional legacy and chart the path ahead.
Key Events and Activities
The day's programme spanned a wide spectrum — from a campus 'Fun Run' to structured debates and panel discussions. A central theme, 'Next Gen IITians for Viksit Bharat', explored how young engineers and researchers can contribute to India's development ambitions. A spirited Foundation Day Debate pitting faculty against students added a lighter, participatory dimension to the occasion.
The institute also hosted sessions on the theme 'Beyond the IITs We Know: Building the IITs that the Nation and the World Will Need' — a forward-looking exercise in reimagining the IIT ecosystem for a changing global order.
Distinguished Guests and Institutional Announcements
Several prominent figures attended the celebrations. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living, addressed the gathering alongside V. Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Kalyan Chakraborty, West Bengal Minister-in-charge of the Information Technology and Electronics Department, and Gobardhan Das, member of NITI Aayog, were also present. Suman Chakraborty, Director of IIT Kharagpur, spoke about the institute's future plans and strategic direction.
The occasion was also marked by significant institutional announcements, the inauguration of new initiatives, and the conferment of awards recognising excellence in contributions to the institute and to society at large.
Innovation, Deep-Tech and Entrepreneurship
Celebrations are continuing with conversations featuring venture capitalists and unicorn founders, alongside technology demonstrations, deep-tech showcases, a Hackathon, and an Innovation Challenge. The programming reflects the institution's deliberate pivot toward applied research, start-up culture, and global relevance.
According to the organisers, discussions ranged from 'research and mentorship to transformative ideas for reimagining the IIT ecosystem', addressing how the IITs can evolve to meet the aspirations of a rapidly changing nation and an interconnected world.
What the Institute Said
IIT Kharagpur framed the jubilee not merely as a retrospective but as a launchpad. 'As we celebrate 75 years of excellence, we celebrate not just what has been achieved, but the ideas that will define what comes next,' the institute said in an official statement. The institution emphasised its commitment to serving both the nation and the global community with renewed purpose.
As the week-long programme continues, all eyes will be on the policy and innovation commitments that emerge from these conversations — and whether they translate into structural changes for India's premier technical institutions.
Point of View
Selective, research-light by global standards — needs reinvention. Having ISRO's chairman and a NITI Aayog member at the table alongside unicorn founders signals that this conversation has institutional weight. The real test is whether the debates and showcases this week produce commitments with timelines, or remain aspirational talking points that dissolve after the celebrations end.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IIT Kharagpur's Platinum Jubilee?
IIT Kharagpur's Platinum Jubilee marks 75 years since the institute's founding, making it India's oldest IIT. The milestone is being observed through a week-long celebration featuring debates, technology showcases, award ceremonies, and addresses by national leaders.
Who attended the IIT Kharagpur Platinum Jubilee celebrations?
Notable attendees included V. Narayanan , Chairman of ISRO; Sri Sri Ravi Shankar , founder of The Art of Living; Gobardhan Das , NITI Aayog member; and Kalyan Chakraborty , West Bengal's IT and Electronics Minister. IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty also addressed the gathering.
What were the key themes discussed at the IIT Kharagpur Platinum Jubilee?
The central themes were 'Next Gen IITians for Viksit Bharat' — exploring young engineers' role in India's development — and 'Beyond the IITs We Know' , which examined how IITs must evolve to serve a changing nation and an interconnected world.
What events are part of the IIT Kharagpur week-long celebration?
The week's programme includes a campus Fun Run, a Foundation Day Debate, technology demonstrations, deep-tech showcases, a Hackathon, an Innovation Challenge, and conversations with venture capitalists and unicorn founders, alongside institutional announcements and award conferments.
Why is IIT Kharagpur's 75th anniversary significant?
IIT Kharagpur is the oldest of India's IITs, established in 1951 . Its 75th anniversary is significant as it coincides with national conversations about India's technology ambitions, making the jubilee a platform for shaping the future direction of the country's premier technical institutions.
