In The Spotlight
As BITS Pilani welcomes 3,303 new students across its three Indian campuses for the AY 2024-25, one is reminded of those high standards and inclusive values that the institute stands for. This year, admissions have seen a huge spurt, arguably like no other, and brought in the best and brightest minds amidst a 30-point rise in cutoff marks, possible only because of our strong commitment to merit-driven admissions, and vibrant scholarship programs in an academically strong environment. It is also the first time 10% of the incoming FD students are in the joint degree programs.
Merit-Based Admission and Scholarship Process:
The admission cycle this year has seen extraordinary demand, with more than 136,000 aspirants wanting admission to the Institution, reflecting our prestigious reputation. The acceptance rate of 2% remains a competitive figure and highlights our rigorous standards. In both groups of PCM and PCB, the cutoff marks soared high, indicating that we accept the best. This year 17 Board Toppers joined BITS Pilani, 9 Male and 8 Female. All the Board Toppers were given 100% Scholarships. We are also gratified to have issued 668 scholarships, which include 37 for meritorious female students; ability must never be curtailed by financial constraints.
Highly Qualified Professors:
The faculty at BITS Pilani form the cornerstone of our academic excellence & tradition. Across our Indian campuses, we have a total of about 900 faculty members, including accomplished researchers and industry experts, all dedicated to providing a world-class education for our students. Their commitment to mentoring and nurturing young minds extends beyond the classroom, inspiring a culture of curiosity and innovation. This academic year, as always, our professors stand ready to challenge, guide, and support a new cohort of scholars.
Diverse and Rigorous Curriculum:
Our curriculum is designed to be as diverse as it is rigorous, offering students a holistic education that prepares them for the challenges of the future. With 15 integrated first-degree programs, 17 higher degree programs, and 24 minor programs, BITS Pilani provides a broad spectrum of academic pathways. This year, we are also excited to welcome students into our joint degree programs with prestigious institutions like BITS-RMIT Melbourne, BITS-IOWA State University, and BITS-University at Buffalo, reflecting our commitment toward global education.
Strong Alumni Network:
The BITS Pilani alumni network speaks for itself in terms of the legacy of excellence. The 186000 alumni have become leaders in their respective areas and are contributors to the BITS community with mentorship, industry connections, and inspiration to the current students. This is a really strong network that our new students can utilize so as to navigate through the academic journey and professional life effectively. The continued engagement of our alumni is one such cornerstone for our institution's continuous success.
It really becomes heartening for all of us to not only witness such tremendous success of our faculty and students but also to continue being a leader in education guided by the principles of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity as the year unfurls. We can only wonder what this new cohort will go on to do during its time here at the institute and in the years to come. Welcome to BITS Pilani, the hub of fresh ideas, innovation, leadership, and grooming talent that shall bolt the course golden.
ADMISSIONS : FACULTY IN CHARGE QUOTE
"The journey from BITSAT to the close of the admissions cycle is one of dedication, late nights, and relentless effort. But every moment is worth it when we see the caliber of students joining our community—each one ready to contribute, innovate, and make a difference”.
- Vishal Gupta, Ph.D.
FIC: FD Admissions
Associate Professor, Dept. of Computer Science and Information Systems
BITS Exclusive
Convocation 2024
The 20th convocation of the BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus celebrated remarkable achievements in academic excellence. This year, 1,059 students received degrees out of which 66 were PhDs at the pinnacle of their academic journey. Among the top achievers, Gold Medallist Dixit Dwij Nitin, Silver Medallist Rijul Radhu, and Bronze Medallist Sushil Nayak were honored for their outstanding performances.
The convocation was the apt culmination of the galaxy of activities lined up at the campus's 20th-anniversary celebrations that also included invigorating lectures, the inauguration of the Bio-Cyber Physical Systems Technology Incubator Hub, and an Open Day to showcase the campus's achievements. Considered to be a great pioneering hub of education, K.K. Birla Goa Campus is shaping a distinct future through its commitment to innovation, research, and community spirit.
PostDoc Spotlight
Simran Arora
Simran Arora, a 2023 PhD graduate from BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, is making waves in the field of Cosmology. She recently secured two prestigious postdoctoral positions: the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship 2024 in Japan and a position at the Institute of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology, Zhejiang University of Technology, China.
Simran’s exceptional thesis work earned her the Best PhD Thesis Award 2023 from the international journal Symmetry. Her research has been showcased on global platforms, including the Gravity and Cosmology 2024 workshop at Kyoto University, Japan, and the Quantum Gravity, Random Geometry and Holography program at Institut Henri Poincare, Paris.
She was also honored with the Young Relativist Award at the 2022 International Conference of Differential Geometry and Relativity in India. Adding to her accolades, Simran’s work was featured in Advanced Scientific News by Wiley, where she contributed to the discussion on the universe’s accelerated expansion without dark energy
Research Stories
Transforming Carbon Capture: BITS Pilani's Unmixed Combustion Innovation.
Researchers at BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, led by Prof. Srinivas Krishnaswamy, are revolutionizing carbon capture with their Unmixed Combustion (UMC) technology. This innovative approach offers a cleaner, efficient solution for industries aiming to reduce CO₂ emissions and advance hydrogen production.
Student Spotlight
Adit Mittal
Adit Mittal, a third-year Electrical Engineering student at BITS Pilani's Pilani campus, is no stranger to entrepreneurship—it's in his genes as a second-generation entrepreneur. But Adit has his own vision: building a business in the green energy sector, specifically within his field of electrical engineering.
While many of students were learning new skills gaining all possible knowledge, during the PS-1 May-July 2024, Adit was working on his dreams burning the midnight oil to setup a new company, wherein he is the main decision maker, and which would have clearly defined main business objective of ‘Doing Green Energy Business’.
He smartly invested his time along with cherry picked like minded hard-working visionary friends who did complete feasibility for setting up a 100 MW Solar Power Plant, which was otherwise worthy of high quality of professional intellect. He engaged with high profile business consultants and did a series of meetings with established Solar Energy Organisations like SECL and front ended meetings for potential takeover of a solar energy plant.
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Sarang Dhongdi
Dr. Sarang Dhongdi has been awarded a prestigious research fellowship by the French Institute in India (IFI), Embassy of France. Through the SSHN programme, IFI aims to nurture and strengthen Franco-Indian research networks by funding research trips involving faculty and researchers from eminent Indian and French Higher Education and Research Institutions (HERI).
As a Visiting Scholar at the DYNI lab (Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LIS), Dr. Sarang will delve into underwater acoustic communication and networking. His research could also enhance the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree in Marine and Maritime Intelligent Robotics (MIR) by inspiring new projects and thesis topics on underwater UAV networking and communications.
Dr. Pradyumn Kumar Sahoo
Dr. Pradyumn Kumar Sahoo is a renowned mathematician and scholar of international repute. He was awarded the coveted Transilvania Fellowship in March 2023 for the strong impact made across the world in the field of study through inspiring pedagogical practices.
He has shown dedication to excellence in academics and earned the Prof. S. Venkateswaran Faculty Excellence Award from BITS Pilani in the year 2022. He has guided five Ph.D. scholars, out of which two have been awarded the prestigious JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship, and one has been selected as an Assistant Professor under the Odisha Public Service Commission. Twelve Ph.D. scholars are currently working under him.
He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Tensor Society of India and Associate Editor of the International Journal of Geometric Methods in Modern Physics. His research, supported by UGC, CSIR, NBHM, and DST, has contributed much to the advancement of science, while his efforts in guiding international interns and winning grants further raise a bar in his contribution to the advancement of knowledge and innovation
Prof. Rajeev Sakhuja
The BITS Pilani family is proud to congratulate Prof. Rajeev Sakhuja, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Associate Dean of Alumni Relations, for receiving the prestigious CRSI Bronze Medal.
This award is a significant recognition in the field of chemical sciences, given to those who have demonstrated exceptional academic rigor and research excellence. Earning this medal requires a sustained commitment to groundbreaking research, innovative teaching, and significant contributions to the scientific community.
Prof. Sakhuja exemplifies these qualities through his dedication, passion, and selflessness. His impact on BITS Pilani is profound, leaving a lasting legacy of excellence and inspiration. We celebrate Prof. Sakhuja's remarkable achievements, which continue to inspire us all.
Alumni Spotlight
Vikram Rai
A distinguished alumnus of the 1998 batch of BITS Pilani, is a lead player in the healthtech industry as the Co-Founder of Vitor Health. His journey from software engineer to healthcare innovator was a display of adaptability and vision.
During his time at BITS, Vikram wasn't only focused on academics. He played a significant role as the Joint Secretary of the Computer Science Association, Senior Core Member of the Department of Photography, and an active participant in the English Drama Club. These experiences shaped his multifaceted career. From leading companies in software engineering, like IBM and Telelogic, Vikram's career took a radical turn in 2009 when he cofounded Sattva Consulting. This was business acumen and social impact—a lead-up to the next quantum leap into healthcare.
Vikram, through Vitor Health, is leading a change in healthcare today through technology-driven, preventive, and primary healthcare services delivered directly at people's homes. His journey from BITS Pilani to leading innovation in healthtech is a matter of pride and inspiration for our alumni community.
Suhane Pal
BITSian Corporate Leaders | Founders Meet- Mumbai-2024*
We had an inspiring gathering at Sofitel Mumbai on 19th July! Esteemed corporate leaders and founders from the BITSian community came together for an evening of connection and collaboration
Awards
Institutional award
BITSPilani was recognized as the top-ranked private technical university in the India Today Best College awards, presented by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister of India. The Group Vice-Chancellor, Prof. V Ramgopal Rao accepted the award on behalf of the institute at the Education Conclave award ceremony held in New Delhi today.
A big thank you to our dedicated faculty, students, and staff. This award reflects our dedication to excellence in Reputation & Governance, Academic & Research Excellence, Infrastructure & Living Experience, Personality & Leadership Development, and Career Progression & Placement.
Student award
Nikhil Handa, B.E. Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Pilani Campus, has earned the prestigious 2024 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Undergraduate Summer Research Scholarship. This highly competitive scholarship, awarded to only a select few globally, provides USD 3000 to support novel research. Nikhil's proposal on "Wireless Network on Chip Communication: Channel Modeling and Performance Analysis" impressed the IEEE APS with its innovative approach.
IEEE APS awards this scholarship to very few universities all over the world.This achievement showcases the cutting-edge research being conducted at BITS Pilani and our student Nikhil’s dedication to advancing technology in the field of wireless communication.
Events Gallery
BITS Pilani has partnered with Springer Nature
BITS Pilani has partnered with Springer Nature in India to make research from our Pilani, Hyderabad, and Goa campuses fully open access! This groundbreaking agreement will boost the visibility and impact of our research, fostering global collaboration and connectivity.
Researchers from BITS can now publish in over 550 open-access journals, including BMC, Springer, and Nature Portfolio.
The agreement was signed by Group Vice Chancellor Prof. V Ramgopal Rao and Venkatesh Sarvasiddhi, Managing Director, Springer Nature India Private Limited in the presence of Sudhirkumar V Barai, Director, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Mr. Arun Khetan, CFO of BITS Pilani and CEO, BITS Pilani, Mumbai Campus, Dr. Nvm Rao, Dean – Administration and Senior Professor, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Soumyabrata Chakraborty, Registrar BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, and Dr. Ranjan Sinha Thakur, Librarian, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus.
Read more about this agreement in the PR: https://lnkd.in/dNAmZanr
BITS Pilani Hyderabad hosts Vidwanotsav PhD Fest
The annual Vidwanotsav PhD Fest was recently held at the BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus. It witnessed the participation of doctoral scholars in different disciplines who got involved in a fusion of academic, cultural, and sports activities.
The event started with the dynamic keynote address by the chief guest, Goutham Mangari, senior director at Oracle, who emphasized the role of research and innovation in the progress towards societal upliftment. The fest also held a competitive poster competition that displayed a vast range of research across science, engineering, humanities, and social sciences.
Beyond academics, the fest had sports events to inculcate camaraderie and team spirit and colorful cultural programs that brought forth the rich talent of the PhD community. Vidwanotsav PhD Fest 2024 was a celebration of both intellect and culture. It bonded community and belongingness amongst the doctoral scholars of BITS-Pilani Hyderabad.
Reinforcing Engineering Pride and Recognizing Innovative Seamless Manufacturing(REPRISM)
Prof. Ramgopal Rao group VC BITS Pilani attended REPRISM 2024 this July in Mumbai. REPRISM signifies a special occasion where ABG stellar teams across unit locations unite to foster pride in their remarkable work.
Together, with the collective effort of ABG employees and their families, they propel manufacturing endeavors forward, ensuring continued success and growth of the organization.
