IIT Bombay 64th Convocation: Record 620 PhD Degrees Awarded in 2025-26 Academic Year
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) successfully concluded its 64th Convocation and Departmental Degree Award Functions (DDAF) on August 22 and 23, 2026, at its Powai campus. The institute conferred a total of 3,763 degrees during the 2025-26 academic year, marking a significant milestone in its academic calendar.
A record 620 PhD degrees were awarded by IIT Bombay in the 2025-26 academic year, the highest number of doctoral degrees ever conferred by any IIT in a single academic year. This achievement underscores the institute’s growing focus on advanced research and its efforts to speed up doctoral completion timelines.
IIT Bombay 64th Convocation: Degree Distribution and PHD Growth
IIT Bombay awarded 3,763 degrees during the 2025-26 academic year, including 620 doctoral degrees, reflecting continued growth in PhD completions.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Total degrees awarded (2025-26) | 3,763 |
| Undergraduate degrees | 1,713 |
| Postgraduate degrees | 1,430 |
| Doctoral degrees | 620 |
| Autumn Session degrees | 3,333 |
| Graduating students in Autumn Session | 3,042 |
| Undergraduate degrees – Autumn | 1,663 |
| Postgraduate degrees – Autumn | 1,319 |
| PhD degrees – Autumn | 351 |
| Spring Session degrees | 430 |
| PhD degrees – Spring | 269 |
| Executive MBA (E-MBA) degrees – Spring | 44 |
| PhD graduates over the past five years | Approximately 300–500 annually |
| PhD completion initiative | IIT Bombay is working to reduce PhD completion time |
| PhD programme time limit | A time limit has been introduced; students with prolonged registration, including those pursuing PhDs for 12 years, have reportedly received warnings |
Departmental Contributions to Doctoral Degrees
- Chemistry: 47 PhD degrees
- Electrical Engineering: 30 PhD degrees
- Mechanical Engineering: 27 PhD degrees
- Biosciences and Bioengineering: 24 PhD degrees
- Humanities and Social Sciences: 23 PhD degrees
- Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science: 23 PhD degrees
- Humanities and Social Sciences: 40 PhDs in total for the academic year, marking its highest-ever annual count.
Professor Shireesh Kedare highlighted the institute’s expansion of its Frontier Research initiative, with faculty groups addressing major national and global challenges. To encourage BTech students to pursue PhD programmes, IIT Bombay initiated an internship for final-year students from several National Institutes of Technology, with 80-90 students currently enrolled and opportunities to transition into Master’s or PhD programmes.
IIT Bombay 64th Convocation Student Demographics and Academic Excellence
Among the 3,442 graduating students in the 2025-26 academic year, IIT Bombay also recognized students for exceptional academic performance and research excellence.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total graduating students | 3,442 |
| Women graduates | 791 |
| Men graduates | 2,651 |
| President of India Medal | Samar Perwez, BTech Electrical Engineering |
| Institute Gold Medal | Vighnesh J. R., Dual Degree, Aerospace Engineering |
| Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal | Nimma Rambabu, Civil Engineering |
| Naik and Rastogi Excellence in PhD Research Awards | 50 students |
Distinguished Guests and Institute Recognition at IIT Bombay 64th Convocation
IIT Bombay’s 2025-26 convocation featured distinguished guests and recognized notable alumni and faculty members, while the institute continued its strong global standing.
- Autumn Session Chief Guest: Professor Umesh Waghmare presided over the Medal Distribution Ceremony.
- Padma Shri 2026 Honourees: Professor Emeritus Juzer Vasi and alumnus Shashi Shekhar Vempati were felicitated by the institute.
- Spring Session Chief Guest: Mr. Motilal Oswal.
- Spring Session Presiding Officer: Dr. Sharad Kumar Saraf.
- Degree Conferment: Professor Shireesh Kedare formally conferred degrees during the Spring Session.
- Other Attendees: Professor Viay Ramani attended the Spring Session, while Dr. Radhakrishnan joined the ceremony online.
- QS World University Rankings 2027: IIT Bombay secured the 134th position globally.
