In The Spotlight
ATMOS 2024 blends Hyderabad Campus in technology, inspiration and entertainment
From motivational keynotes by Ashneer Grover and A.S Kiran Kumar to the adrenaline-filled ATV Showdown and the unforgettable musical nights with Nakash Aziz and Lost Stories, the fest captured the spirit of innovation and creativity at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus.
Day 0: Inauguration – November 7th
The grand celebration began with an engaging inauguration ceremony. The chief guest for the evening, P.J. Narayan, Director of IIIT Hyderabad, spoke on the importance of fostering innovation and the growing significance of technology in shaping the future. His words resonated deeply with the audience, motivating students and professionals alike to pursue their passions and contribute to technological advancement. The opening ceremony marked the official beginning of a highly anticipated event that promised a unique blend of intellectual stimulation, hands-on experiences, and exciting competitions.
Day 1: A Grand Opening, Keynotes, and Tech Expo
November 8th began with keynote sessions featuring the esteemed A.S Kiran Kumar, former Chairman of ISRO, who shared captivating insights on space technology and his experiences during the Chandrayaan-1 mission. Complementing this, the audience was also treated to an inspiring talk by M. Shankaran, Director of the USRC, whose deep expertise in the field enriched the day's learning, offering a fresh perspective on cutting-edge technological innovations and their impact on society. Adding to the excitement, Stack Overflow CEO, Prashanth Chandrasekar, delivered a compelling session that emphasized the evolving landscape of technology and the role of community-driven knowledge platforms. The day also featured the much-anticipated Tech Expo, a vibrant exhibition that showcased cutting-edge technological innovations and interactive exhibits. The day ended with a stand-up comedy show by Madhur Virli, an IIT Delhi alumnus-turned-comedian, that had the crowd in splits
Day 2: Entrepreneurial Insights, ATV Showdown, and Electrifying Music
November 9th began with a highly anticipated keynote address by Ashneer Grover, the celebrated entrepreneur known for his bold business strategies and transformative successes in the startup world. Ashneer’s candid reflections on navigating the complexities of the startup ecosystem resonated deeply with aspiring entrepreneurs, encouraging them to stay adaptable and fearless in pursuing their ambitions. The excitement of the day was ramped up with the high-octane ATV Showdown, where participants showcased their skills in manoeuvring all-terrain vehicles through a series of challenging courses.
This event not only highlighted the participants' technical prowess but also celebrated teamwork and problem-solving under pressure. Later in the afternoon, the spotlight shifted to a special interaction with Viswak Sen, the popular Telugu actor whose charisma and dynamic roles have won him a devoted fanbase. The night began with a high-energy performance by Nakash Aziz, who captivated the crowd and set the tone for an unforgettable evening of music and celebration. The crescendo of Day 2 came with the arrival of the renowned DJ duo Lost Stories. This blend of knowledge-sharing, technological showcase, and vibrant entertainment made Day 2 a standout experience in the event’s timeline.
Day 3: Grand Finale of Robowars and IDRL
The Robowars featured teams battling it out with their custom-built robots, showcasing engineering ingenuity, strategic planning, and precise control. The competition not only highlighted the participants' dedication but also emphasized the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of fierce competition. The IDRL Finals was another major crowd-puller, featuring high-speed drone manoeuvres that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. The drone pilots showcased their extraordinary skills in precision flying, navigating through challenging courses at breakneck speeds while performing complex aerial manoeuvres. This thrilling competition highlighted the advances in drone technology and the precision required to master it, elevating the event’s adrenaline-pumping atmosphere. Spectators were in awe as drones whizzed by, demonstrating not only speed but also the pilots' deep understanding of aerodynamics and control systems.
BITS Exclusive
Convocation 2024
From inspiring messages by Mr. Sanjay Mehrotra, President and CEO of Micron Technology and Dr. S. Somnath , Chairman of ISRO —two visionaries who took India to the Silicon Valley and the moon — to reconnecting with alumni, here's how the graduating class of BITS Pilani celebrated their big day.
Inside BITS Pilani's convocation 2024, a short highlights video
BITS Pilani held its convocation at the Pilani campus, where degrees were conferred across BE, MSc, ME, and Ph.D. programs, to 1,832 students. In total, this year, 15,681 degrees have been awarded by the institute, including all campuses, programs, and WILP programs. Highlighting the focus on diversity in STEM, 3,893 women graduated this year.
On the academic front, BITS Pilani has secured a placement rate of 81% nationally, followed by 80% at the Pilani campus. The rest pursued higher studies and entrepreneurship as careers. Top recruiters included IMC Trading, Google, Microsoft, Cisco, Goldman Sachs, and Wells Fargo. Emerging industries like high-frequency trading (HFT) and Supply Chain Management also played a significant role in this year's placements with recruiters like Tower Research Capital, IMC, Quadeye, Trexquant, Vegapay, Ola, Micron, etc.
The institute also reported a remarkable growth in PhD enrolment, with a CAGR of over 20% in the last five years, now standing at over 2050, out of which 42% are female scholars. Additionally, during FY 2023-24, the institute approved 72 research projects worth ₹81.33 Cr, demonstrating its commitment to enhancing research competitiveness. Furthermore, BITS Pilani filed 121 new patent applications in the same year, contributing to a total of 419 filed patents and 107 granted patents to date. These achievements underscore BITS Pilani's ongoing dedication to fostering academic excellence and innovation. The unwavering commitment of BITS Pilani alumni to nurture the success of future generations was evident in this year’s placement season. Among the attendees were 6 alumni who have pledged $ 1 million each towards the $100 million BITS Pilani endowment fund that was officially launched during the Pilani campus convocation 2024, aimed at supporting various institutional development projects.
Research Stories
Advancing Innovation: A Proud Moment for BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus!
We are thrilled to announce that Prof. Manik Gupta and Prof. Ponnalagu R N have been awarded a prestigious grant under the DRDO DYSL CARS program for their cutting-edge research on “Deployment of Deep Neural Networks on Low-Power Microcontrollers for Continuous Real-Time Speech Applications.”
This significant achievement demonstrates their ingenuity and commitment to addressing real-world challenges through innovative solutions. Their work not only propels technological progress but also exemplifies the potential of research excellence at BITS Pilani.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to both professors for this well-deserved recognition! Let their accomplishments inspire others to push the boundaries of research, embrace curiosity, and strive for impactful contributions to science and technology.
Faculty Spotlight
Raj Kumar Gupta
Please join us in applauding Pilani Campus Professor Raj Kumar Gupta, from the Department of Physics, for being awarded the prestigious Silver Medal (SM) from the Indian Liquid Crystal Society (ILCS) for 2024.
This recognition celebrates Prof Gupta's remarkable contributions to the field of Soft Matter, particularly Liquid Crystals, along with their outstanding dedication to teaching and administration. Prof Gupta will also deliver the SM award lecture at the 31st National Conference on Liquid Crystals (NCLC-2024) in Surat, Gujarat, from December 20-22, 2024.
We hope his achievements inspire us all, and we wish Prof. Raj Kumar Gupta continued success in his future endeavours.
Student Spotlight
Kuhu Goel
Meet Kuhu Goel, a student at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, who has been named an Aditya Birla Scholar for 2024-25, joining an elite group of scholars recognized for their academic excellence, leadership, and vision. The grand event, held in Mumbai on November 9th and 10th, 2024, also celebrated the silver jubilee of the scholarship program. The occasion was graced by distinguished personalities such as India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and renowned Harvard political philosopher, Prof. Michael J. Sandel, alongside Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, who welcomed the new cohort of scholars.
After an intense selection process and interviews with an esteemed panel of industry leaders and scientists, Kuhu is one of the 14 exceptional scholars selected from BITS Pilani campuses and top IITs in the engineering stream. Her achievements highlight the campus’s commitment to advancing research, innovation, and educational opportunities, both in India and globally.
Student Achievement
Achievement Update
We are delighted to share that a brilliant team of students—Nikhil Handa, Sohan Pattanayak, Amarthya Guru, Jash Karani, and Harshith Reddy—mentored by Prof. Mani Sankar Dasgupta, have achieved a remarkable feat by winning the GUJCOST Award for their project on an "Application-Based Robot" at ROBOFEST-GUJARAT 4.0, India's largest robotics competition.
Their innovative Proof of Concept design has successfully progressed from Level II to Level III (Prototype), showcasing not only their technical expertise but also their determination and creativity. This achievement stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, mentorship, and the spirit of innovation. Let this success inspire all of us to aim higher, think creatively, and turn ideas into impactful solutions.
Kudos to the team for making us proud and setting an example for others to follow!
Alumni Spotlight
Vaibhav Singh
Vaibhav Singh is a proud and accomplished alumnus who graduated from BITS Pilani Campus (Batch 2016) with a degree in M.Sc. Chemistry and B. Pharm. He has been innovative since his college days, and it was in his final semester at BITS Pilani that he noticed a gap in accessible healthcare, especially in rural areas like Pilani and even busy cities like Bangalore. He drew inspiration from challenges like the spine flu outbreak and inefficient healthcare systems and envisioned a telemedicine platform.
His leadership as General Secretary of the Students’ Union helped him develop the skills needed for entrepreneurship. VisitHealth has since expanded into condition management programs and international markets. He is an exemplary example of the entrepreneurial culture in BITS, and we hope this inspires more students to dream big and do good.
Suhane Pal
Silver Jubilee celebrations at Bits Pilani, Dubai Campus
BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus recently celebrated a historic milestone – their Silver Jubilee
The grand unveiling of the special 25-year commemorative logo was done in the virtual presence of our Vice Chancellor, Prof. V Ramgopal Rao and Directors Prof. Sudhirkumar V Barai, Director, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Prof. Suman Kundu, Director BITS Pilani - K.K. Birla Goa Campus and our beloved Director, Prof. Souri Banerjee, Director, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus. We marked 25 years of academic brilliance, innovation, and a vibrant community. We are immensely grateful to the management, faculty, staff, and students who have shaped BPDC into the centre of excellence it is today.
Here’s to the next chapter of impact, innovation, and global leadership!
Events Gallery
BITS Pilani Sports Festival concludes on a high note as the largest Sports Festival in the UAE
Vigour, Valour and Victory were the buzzwords at BITS Pilani Dubai Campus (BPDC) as the 5-day inter-university sporting extravaganza, BITS Pilani Sports Festival (BSF) concluded successfully on 29th November 2024.
The 21st edition of BSF set a record for 34 universities and 5000 students across UAE and also featured ‘BSF for Schools,’ which saw 29 schools with over 1200 students competing in a variety of events. The closing ceremony was graced by Indian International Cricket Player Mr. VVS Laxman as the Chief Guest, Prof. Souri Banerjee, Director of BPDC, Dr. Geetha, Dean Student Welfare and Dr. M. Rafiuddin, Convener, BSF, students and staff from various colleges and sponsors.
High intensity games, nail biting finishes and the spirit of sportsmanship were witnessed as the teams vied for top spots in multiple sports categories such as football, cricket, throwball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and athletics along with indoor games like chess, badminton, and table tennis. Looking ahead, BSF at BITS Pilani Dubai Campus plans to institutionalize the Inter-BITS Championship, selecting the best talents from all campuses for the All India Sports Tournament.
The BPDC team received massive support on the home ground as they played every match like champions and deservedly won the Overall Championship Trophy for Universities with 9 gold medals and 7 silver medals. On the other hand, Dubai Private School, Sharjah secured the Overall Championship Trophy for Schools.
The 1999 Batch celebrates their Silver Jubilee at BITS Pilani
BITS Pilani gleamed with the lively spirit of more than 250 members of the 1999 Batch reliving their golden BITSian days, rekindling old friendships, revisiting treasured memories, creating new stories, and camaraderie at the Silver Jubilee Reunion! Organized by the Alumni Relations Division from November 7th to November 9th, 2024.
As part of their Silver Jubilee Class Gift, the 1999 Batch has raised ₹2.12 Cr so far, with a target of ₹6 Cr to fund scholarships such as MCN and BAFCE. Their amazing efforts to make BITS available to future generations deserve our admiration! We appreciate the alumni for giving back to the community, reminding us of what makes BITS Pilani so unique and making this reunion genuinely memorable.
BITS Pilani at QS Higher Ed Summit: Prof. V Ramgopal Rao Highlights the Future of Lifelong Learning
At the QS Higher Ed Summit: APAC 2024, held at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, delivered an insightful address on “Rise of the Reskillers: Building Lifelong Learning.”
Prof. Rao emphasized that in today’s rapidly advancing technological landscape, upskilling and reskilling are no longer optional but essential. He highlighted how higher education institutions must embrace technology to enable continuous and interdisciplinary learning for students across all fields.
Key takeaways from his address include:
Prof. Rao’s vision resonates with the global need for educational institutions to prioritize adaptability, innovation, and lifelong learning. His address at the summit served as an inspiring call for reimagining higher education to align with the demands of the 21st century.
BITS Pilani’s commitment to interdisciplinary education, experiential learning, and societal impact positions it as a leader in preparing students for a future driven by constant change and innovation.
Awards
BITS Pilani Honored for Excellence of Women in STEM Initiatives
In a significant recognition of its commitment to fostering gender diversity, BITS Pilani had been honored among the top winners of the CII Awards on Excellence for Women in STEM 2024. This prestigious award, an initiative by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), celebrates organizations that have made exemplary strides in enhancing the representation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
The institute believes that empowering women in STEM enriches the academic community, drives innovation, and creates a more inclusive and dynamic society. This recognition reaffirms BITS Pilani’s resolve to continue championing initiatives that bridge the gender gap and inspire future generations of women in STEM.
Congratulations to everyone at BITS Pilani for this remarkable achievement!
BITS Pilani improves its QS Rankings
BITS Pilani posts impressive rise in the QS World University Rankings for Asia 2025! The institution jumped to 171st place from 215th in the QS Asia rankings and to 28th from 40th in the QS Southern Asia rankings.
This significant improvement reflects BITS Pilani's eminence and dedication to excellence in education and research. We thank all our students, faculty, staff, and BITS leadership for their continued support in making this possible!
Innovation & Collaboration
BITS Pilani and the University of Buffalo, New York collaborate on AI, Energy and Quantum Research
In a significant step toward advancing global higher education and research collaboration, the two institutes have entered into a partnership to develop collaborative programs in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Energy Storage, Semiconductor Quantum Science, and Materials Chemistry.
The partnership aims to foster graduate education and research with applications in imaging, sensing, and communication technologies. Together, BITS Pilani and UB shall aim to create a pathway for students to experience the best of both worlds—world-class education, cutting-edge research, and hands-on experience in global industries shaping the future of technology.
Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/g3FBwci7
BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus enters a new age of collaboration and innovation
The Center for Research Excellence in National Security (CRENS) has been established at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad campus, which connects all the campuses of BITS Pilani, marking a significant milestone in the journey towards enhancing national security through indigenous cutting-edge technology development by joint research, skill development and entrepreneurship.
The objective of CRENS is to collaborate with all the national security-related agencies, namely MOD, NSC, MH, DRDO, ISRO, DAE, Defence PSUs, Industries, Academia etc, to foster a synergistic interaction that leverages the rich potential of BITS Pilani's academic and research capabilities with the aim of addressing critical challenges and contributing significantly to India's security apparatus. This initiative will contribute to the nation's strategic and economic growth, ensuring a secure and prosperous nation.
In this endeavour, BITS Pilani has entered into an MOU with the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune, which is a premier institute under DRDO, Department of Defence Research and Development, to contribute to enhancing the country's defence preparedness by developing cutting-edge technologies, the skill set of professionals and entrepreneurship skills. The MOU sets an objective of creating mechanisms to foster collaboration for joint research, innovation and skill development between BITS Pilani through CRENS and DIAT Pune.
BITS Pilani and Aditya Birla Science and Technology Company Sign MoU to Advance
BITS Pilani has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aditya Birla Science and Technology Company to foster academic and research collaboration. The collaboration will propel scientific and technological advancements toward human resource development in areas of mutual interest.
Under the MoU, both organizations will collaborate on several key initiatives, which would include joint research in basic and applied sciences, research proposal submission to national and international funding bodies, and the exchange of expertise through workshops, conferences, and symposiums. Additionally, the partnership offers BITS Pilani students the chance to complete research projects and PS projects. Furthermore, ABSTC employees would now have the opportunity to undergo Ph.D. programs offered by BITS through its Institute’s Ph.D. Aspirant Scheme, thus deepening knowledge exchange and innovation.
This MoU will thus mark an important step in bridging academic research with industrial application. BITS Pilani strives to progress in science and nurture future researchers and innovators.”
