At IIT Jodhpur, the country's first "MeitY" chair on AI will be set up

IIT Jodhpur, a branch of the Indian Institute of Technology, celebrated its founding day. Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, attended the ceremony as the chief guest. The ceremony was presided over by Dr. R. Chidambaram, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the IIT Jodhpur, while Professor Santanu Chaudhury, Director of the IIT Jodhpur, gave the welcome address.

In a landmark declaration, Alkesh Kumar Sharma promised to set aside Rs 5 crore for the creation of India's first "MeitY Chair" in artificial intelligence (AI) at the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur. This program represents a turning point in the nation's advancement of AI research and innovation. The institute has been given permission to build a state-of-the-art program with a focus on perception and cognitive engineering for a sizable sum of Rs 155 crore.

Alkesh also opened the student innovation exhibition and praised the institute's objective for inclusive development driven by emerging technologies. He praised the initiatives taken by IIT Jodhpur to carry out various government programs by expanding its operations and using its resources to bring about a technological revolution and create "Atma Nirbhar Bharat." The research culture and activities taking place at IIT Jodhpur, which aim to instil the culture of innovative thinking and problem-solving among the nation's youth, were also praised by Dr. R. Chidambaram, Chairman, BoG, IIT Jodhpur.

A discussion on "Scientific Excellence at IIT Jodhpur" was held in the afternoon. IIT Jodhpur's professors presented fifteen highly regarded and top research papers. More than 140 submissions reflecting the beauty of the campus were received for the best phone photography competition, and 15 awards were granted to students, employees, and professors. On this occasion, IIT Jodhpur honoured three staff members and eleven faculty members to recognize their outstanding contributions during their careers at IIT Jodhpur.

Institute Awards For Excellence In Research

Since 2020, the institute has honoured faculty members on Institute Foundation Day by presenting them with "The awards given to the faculty members for their outstanding research contribution." Since 2020, 14 academic members have received the Research Excellence Award in the fields of science, engineering, and "humanities, social science, and management" in the categories of young researchers and senior researchers.

Meritorious Staff

IIT Jodhpur acknowledged the significant contributions made by employees who have given the institute's objectives years of devoted service. This honour is given to employees who have excelled and made a significant contribution to their departments.

International Research Mobility Grant (Irmg)

For international research and collaboration between IITJ and the International Institutes of Repute (top QS rankings), the institute introduced the International Research Mobility Grant (IRMG) in 2021. Following a rigorous two-stage peer evaluation procedure for the selection of projects with financial support of up to Rs 10 lakhs, the International Research Mobility Grant is sponsored by R&D funds for giving opportunities to young faculty members. Young faculty members can improve their collaboration with reputable international organisations and scholars thanks to this program. A total of Rs 64.27 lakh has been sanctioned for IRMG awards to a total of 7 faculty members.

Projects On The Moonshot

IIT Jodhpur establishes a distinctive framework for 'Moonshot Projects' on novel, game-changing concepts. The goal of the "Moonshot Competition" is to create ideas that could ultimately result in significant improvements to societal, economic, environmental, and health-related problems. IIT Jodhpur hopes to use this to inspire fresh research projects that will develop creativity and teamwork while solving urgent issues and laying the foundation for a sustainable future.

Dr. Debanjan Guha Roy, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil & Infrastructure Engineering, received the Moonshot Award this year for his original concept, "Lunar Tunnel Boring Machine for Underground Moon Habitat." The beneficiaries of these esteemed prizes and fellowships stood as a tribute to IIT Jodhpur's unrelenting quest of excellence and its lasting influence on influencing the future of science, engineering, social sciences, and management as the celebrations came to an end.

At the conclusion of the day, a cultural presentation with performances by IIT Jodhpur's faculty, staff, and students was planned. There were dance and singing performances showcasing the IIT Jodhpur campus's vibrant variety. The institute reiterated its dedication to moving forward on the path of scientific discovery, academic brilliance, and societal transformation as the celebrations for foundation day came to a close, leaving an imprint on the world of education and research.