BITS Pilani, an Institution of Eminence, celebrated Convocation 2025 at its Pilani campus on July 13, marking yet another milestone in its distinguished legacy. Degrees were awarded across BE, MSc, ME, and PhD programs to 1,706 students from the Pilani campus, while the total number of degrees conferred across all campuses, programs, and Work Integrated Learning Programs (WILP) stood at 17,014.
The convocation was graced by the presence of Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chancellor of BITS Pilani; Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud, former Chief Justice of India; and Professor V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani. The presence of these eminent personalities underscored the university’s deep commitment to academic excellence, visionary leadership, and societal impact.
Addressing the graduating batch, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla said, “Education is not just a personal achievement; it is a responsibility. This convocation is more than a ceremonial milestone, as it represents the collective journey you’ve been part of at BITS Pilani and the larger role you’re poised to play in shaping the future. The transformation we are undertaking, whether through new infrastructure, academic innovation, or global expansion, is inspired by the ambitions and achievements of students like you. As you step forward, you leave behind a legacy of excellence, curiosity, and contribution that will continue to define BITS Pilani for years to come.
BITS Pilani graduates are equipped not only with technical skills but with the capacity to shape discourse, solve critical challenges, and drive change with integrity. I urge each of you to lead with purpose and empathy.”
This year’s cohort reflected BITS Pilani’s commitment to inclusivity, with 4,563 women graduating across programs, representing 26.8% of the total graduates. The institute also achieved a record 268 PhD conferrals, the highest in its history, with women comprising 46.3% of the doctoral graduates. Additionally, 12,192 WILP students graduated this year, further highlighting BITS Pilani’s pioneering role in delivering transformative education to working professionals.
The convocation ceremony was a momentous occasion that underscored BITS Pilani’s ambitious strides in academic innovation, global collaboration, and infrastructure development. Among the key institutional announcements was the continued rollout of Project Vistaar, a significant initiative aimed at modernizing and expanding campus infrastructure to support the next phase of the university’s growth. This includes the development of the upcoming AI+ campus in Amaravati, which will focus on emerging technologies, interdisciplinary research, and international academic partnerships. In parallel, the launch of BITS Pilani Digital promises to revolutionize the institute’s online education offerings through industry-aligned, flexible learning programs tailored for working professionals.
Prof V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, reflected on the achievements of the graduating class and the institution at large, stating, “Today, we celebrate not only the culmination of your academic journey but the beginning of your impact journey. Our graduates are entering a world that demands agility, empathy, and innovation.
Prof Sudhir Kumar Barai, Director BITS Pilani Campus added, “I also take this opportunity to recognize the role of our extraordinary alumni network, which continues to be a source of mentorship, funding, and collaboration, helping bridge academia and industry in meaningful ways.”
Addressing the graduating students, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said, “As you leave this campus, remember that the true measure of your engineering and scientific achievements is not their complexity, but whether they extend justice, dignity, and opportunity to those long pushed to the margins. We who build technology now shoulder a dual responsibility: to innovate boldly and to communicate clearly, so every citizen can understand and help shape the tools that govern their lives. Let empathy temper every algorithm, humility guide every discovery, and the values of our Constitution light your path as you turn possibility into public good.”
True to its tradition, the institution also recognized its top-performing students from across campuses. The Gold Medal for academic excellence was awarded to Kulkarni Dev Shree from the Pilani Campus; Ashman Mehra from the Goa Campus; Tarimala Vignesh Reddy and Siddharth Yayavaram (bracketed) from the Hyderabad Campus; and Riddhi Goswami from the Dubai Campus. These students exemplify the academic rigor, discipline, and drive that define the BITS Pilani community.
The institution’s milestone of 2,500 active doctoral students further solidifies its transition from a teaching institution to a global research powerhouse. Alumni engagement is also thriving, with over $25 million already raised for the $100 million endowment fund launched last year, which will support scholarships, research, Centers of Excellence, and entrepreneurship across campuses. The alumni community’s generosity and involvement were also visible in philanthropic contributions and in active mentoring, curriculum support, and innovation programs.
This year’s graduating batch reflects BITS Pilani’s expanding research footprint, with a record 268 PhD degrees conferred, including many from new industry-aligned programs like IMPACT and DRIVE. BITS Pilani continues to excel in research and innovation, securing over ₹186 crore in funding for 270 projects and filing 179 new patents in FY 2024–25. Global partnerships with universities such as RMIT, Iowa State, and Buffalo have significantly boosted joint PhD programs and 2+2 international degrees.
The 2025 convocation also witnessed the recognition of alumni whose contributions in their fields and to the institution have set new benchmarks. The Distinguished Alumnus Awards were presented to Prof. Amit Sheth, Professor at the University of South Carolina; Arvind Mathew, Senior Advisor Mentor and Former CEO of Mahindra Electric; Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director of TCIL; Atul B Lall, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Dixon Technologies; Krishna Narayanaswamy, CTO and Founder of Netskope; and B.N. Reddy, Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia.
The Distinguished Service Awards honoured Navaratna (Norton) Kothari, Chairman of the Kothari Group, Canada; Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; Kailash Gupta, Founder and CEO of ETSC Computers Pvt. Ltd.; and Rakesh Suri, Founder and CEO of Computer Shiksha. The Young Achiever Awards were presented to Dushyant Sridhar, a renowned Vedic speaker and author, and to Vaibhav Singh, Chetan Anand, Anurag Prasad, and Shashvat Tripathi, co-founders of Visit Health.
