IIT-Kharagpur Pushing AI, Cybersecurity Frontiers: Says Director at Convocation

IIT-Kharagpur is pushing the frontiers of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud computing, and has emerged as a national leader in applying AI responsibly to real-world challenges in healthcare and climate, Director Suman Chakraborty said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the institute’s 71st convocation, Chakraborty highlighted the expansion of the AI department, which now offers BTech, MTech, and interdisciplinary dual degree programs.

“Our research covers a wide spectrum, from virtual accident monitoring and wastewater engineering to next-generation wireless communication. We are at the forefront of responsible and explainable AI, with a strong focus on human-centric applications in critical areas like healthcare and climate,” he said.

“We have taken significant strides to strengthen national defence through the DRDO Industry Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs) at IIT Kharagpur, with focused research on underwater robotics and cyber-physical defence systems,” Chakraborty said.

He added that the institute’s healthcare technologies are being deployed in rural India, while its AI models are contributing to disaster response efforts and precision agriculture initiatives.

Tata Steel Managing Director and IIT-Kharagpur Board of Governors Chairman T.V. Narendran said, “India is on a steady path to becoming a global leader in technology and manufacturing. Our journey is closely linked to the nation’s growth story. IIT-Kharagpur is evolving with the times and playing a crucial role in shaping the future.”

Former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath graced the occasion as the chief guest. Also in attendance were Anand Deshpande, Founder and Chairperson of Persistent Systems, and Anuradha Acharya, CEO of Mapmygenome.

A total of 3,731 degrees were awarded during the convocation, including 277 PhDs, 18 MS, 956 M.Tech, 50 MCP, 142 MBA, 23 EMBA, 58 PGDBA, 5 MMST, 28 MHRM, 18 M.Arch, 47 LLM, 31 LLB, 786 Dual Degrees, 614 B.Tech (Hons), 46 B.Arch (Hons), 151 Four-Year B.S, 260 Five-Year M.Sc, 214 Two-Year M.Sc, 3 M.Sc-M.Tech, 3 Three-Year M.Sc, and 1 CER. Prestigious honours such as the President’s Gold Medal, the Prime Minister’s Gold Medal, and several other awards were also presented to meritorious students.

In addition, 25 Distinguished Alumnus Awards were conferred upon notable alumni in recognition of their exceptional contributions to science, academia, education, research, and public service.

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