The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, hosted its 12th Convocation at the Hyderabad Campus on August 3, 2025. The event took place in the campus auditorium. Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, was the Chief Guest. Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, and Prof. Soumyo Mukherjee, Campus Director, were also present. Students were warmly applauded as they received their degrees.
This year, over 1200 degrees were awarded to students in various programs. Notable scholars received accolades for their academic and research achievements. Tarimala Vignesh Reddy and Siddharth Yayavaram earned Gold Medals for academic excellence. Arnav Yayavaram received the Silver Medal, and Ayush Bhauwala was given the Bronze.
The Prof. Suman Kapur Memorial Best Ph.D. Thesis Award in Biological Sciences went to Ms. Mude Hemanjali, supervised by Prof. Jayati Ray Dutta and Prof. Ramakrishnan Ganesan. Other outstanding doctoral research awards were presented to Ms. Sunita Kumawat (Mathematics), Mr. Gururaja S (Mechanical Engineering), and Mr. Prakash Kumar Shukla (Economics and Finance).
The Convocation also honored distinguished alumni. The BITS Ratna Award was given to Mr. Prem Jain and Mr. Sid Mookerji. Several individuals received Distinguished Alumnus and Services Awards for their significant contributions.
In his address, Prof. Soumyo Mukherjee highlighted the campus’s achievements in research and academics. This year marked the highest number of doctoral graduates. The campus secured over ₹48 crore in research funding and published over 1,150 papers. The Technology Business Incubator supported over 90 startups, while more than 365 pre-placement offers were made through the Practice School program.
Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao praised the campus for aligning with the institute’s vision to become India’s top research-driven university. He emphasized the importance of initiatives like the doctoral DRIVE and IMPACT programs.
Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood congratulated graduates, urging them to use science and technology for societal benefit. He stressed the importance of interdisciplinary thinking and ethical research.
In a message to the graduates, Dr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chancellor of BITS Pilani, encouraged them to remain adaptable and value-driven in their careers. He noted, “The world rewards those who learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
The event ended with emotional farewells and a sense of pride as graduates prepared to make their mark in academia, industry, and society.
