IIT Kanpur 59th Convocation: Over 3,100 Students to Receive Degrees on July 15

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) is all set to host its highly anticipated 59th convocation ceremony on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. This major academic milestone will celebrate the hard work and achievements of over 3,100 graduating students across various engineering, science, and management disciplines.

If you are a graduating student, parent, or future candidate aiming for IIT Kanpur, here is a complete breakdown of the event schedule, chief guest details, student distribution data, and the official dress code rules.

Chief Guest and Key Dignitaries

The grand event will be graced by Dr. Pawan Goenka as the Chief Guest. Dr. Goenka is the Chairperson of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), Department of Space, Government of India. He is also a distinguished alumnus of IIT Kanpur (B.Tech) and a Padma Shri awardee (2025).

The ceremony will be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board of Governors (BoG) and Prof. Manindra Agrawal, the Director of IIT Kanpur.

Important Event Schedule and Venue Structure

To make sure every student can comfortably take part in the celebrations, IIT Kanpur has organized the convocation in two distinct sessions:

• Session 1 (Morning): Held at the Main Auditorium of IITK, which has a capacity of 1,250 people. During this session, the institute’s high achievers and medal winners will receive their top awards. Degree recipients must report by 7:30 AM and be seated by 8:30 AM.

• Session 2 (Afternoon – 2:30 PM onwards): Individual departments will confer degrees to all graduates across various Lecture Halls (such as L-16, L-17, and L-18). This will be led by the chairpersons of the Senate Post-Graduate and Under-Graduate Committees.

Detailed Graduate Data: Who is Graduating?

A total of 3,104 students will officially receive their degrees this year. The diverse breakdown of degrees highlights IIT Kanpur’s focus on deep research and modern learning options:

Top Medal Winners of the Year

The institute will present its highest honors to the following outstanding students for their academic brilliance and leadership:

• President’s Gold Medal: Awarded to Sagar KV (Computer Science and Engineering) for the best academic performance.

• Director’s Gold Medal: Awarded to Aditya V and Ritwik Shankar for outstanding overall achievement.

• Ratan Swarup Memorial Award: Awarded to Dhruv Budhdev.

• Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Memorial Award: Awarded to Radhika Prasad.

Mandatory Dress Code for Students

IIT Kanpur continues its proud tradition of using an ethnic Indian dress code instead of the old-style colonial gowns. The institute will also hand out color-coded stoles based on the specific departments.

• Male Students: Must wear a cream-colored, knee-length, full-sleeved kurta (preferably Nehru style) paired with white pyjamas.

• Female Students: Must wear a cream-colored, knee-length kurta with a white churidar or leggings, or a cream-colored saree.

• Footwear: Formal shoes or sandals are highly preferred. Casual footwear like flip-flops or sports shoes is strictly prohibited.

For parents and relatives who cannot fit inside the main auditorium, the campus has set up live video telecasts across multiple lecture halls (including LHC-16 to LHC-20) to ensure nobody misses the proud moment

Written by Simran

Simran is currently working as a Senior Content Writer at Findmycollege , where she creates engaging and research-driven learning resources for students. She has completed her Graduation in Journalism from Delhi University. With 4 years of experience in the EdTech industry, she has previously contributed to leading platforms like Leverage Edu and Aakash. Her expertise lies in simplifying Engineering and Medical entrance exam content to guide aspirants in their preparation journey. Beyond writing, Simran enjoys sketching, watching movies, and finding creative inspiration in everyday life.

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