• Dr Pawan Goenka, distinguished alumnus of IIT Kanpur and Chairperson of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), Department of Space, Government of India, will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.
• The convocation will see 3104 students graduating this year across various disciplines.
• The ceremony will also see prizes awarded across various categories, including the President’s Gold Medal and the Director’s Gold Medal.

Kanpur, July 13, 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) is ready to host its 59th Convocation Ceremony on July 15, 2026, to celebrate the academic achievements of its graduating students as they begin a new phase of their journey. The ceremony marks a significant milestone for 3104 graduating students representing a broad spectrum of disciplines.

The momentous occasion will be graced by Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairperson of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), Department of Space, Government of India, as the Chief Guest. The Chairperson, Board of Governors (BoG), IIT Kanpur, and Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, will preside over the much-awaited convocation ceremony.

Dr. Pawan Goenka is an eminent engineer, industry leader, and architect of India's space sector reforms. A B.Tech. graduate from IIT Kanpur, Ph.D. from Cornell University, and alumnus of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program, he began his career at General Motors R&D in the U.S. before joining Mahindra & Mahindra in 1993, where he spearheaded the development of the iconic Scorpio SUV, built a world-class R&D ecosystem, and retired as Managing Director & CEO in 2021. As Chairman of IN-SPACe, he has been instrumental in implementing India's space reforms, shaping the Indian Space Policy 2023, liberalizing FDI in the space sector, and advancing a robust roadmap for a globally competitive Indian space economy through greater private sector participation. A recipient of the Padma Shri (2025) and numerous prestigious national and international honors, Dr. Goenka continues to contribute to industry and academia through leadership roles, including Chairperson of the Board of Governors of IIT Madras, Independent Director on the Sun Pharma Board, and Chairperson of the Ministry of Commerce's SCALE initiative.

The Convocation Ceremony for 3104 students graduating this year (subject to the approval of the BOG meeting, to be held on July 13 & 14, 2026) will be held in two sessions, with the first session in the Main Auditorium of IITK, which has a capacity of 1250, during which the high achievers will be awarded. The second session will be the conferring of degrees by the individual departments to the students across the different Lecture Halls, led by the Chairperson of the Senate Post-Graduate Committee (SPGC) and the Chairperson of the Senate Under-Graduate Committee (SUGC). The ceremony is being held in two sessions to ensure that all the graduating students can participate in this celebration of their academic accomplishments.

The graduating students include 390 PhD recipients, 53 from MTech-PhD (Joint Degree), 01 from MDes-PhD (Joint Degree), 04 MS (by Research)-PhD (Joint Degree), 502 MTech recipients, 852 BTech and 212 BS recipients. The ceremony will also see 186 students from MSc (2-year), 59 from MBA, 36 from MDes, 66 from MS (by Research), 40 from PGPEX-VLFM, 35 from Double Major, 107 from Dual Degree, 28 from MS-PD (MS part of the Dual Degree), and 492 from the eMasters degree programs, subject to the approval of BOG meeting, to be held on July 13 & 14, 2026. This diverse cohort of graduates reflects IITK’s wide-ranging academic programs and its dedication to promoting a multidisciplinary learning environment.

In keeping with the flexibility of the institute’s academic programme, 3104 students are graduating.

The ceremony will continue the IIT Kanpur administration’s dress code recommendation, with male students wearing a cream-coloured kurta paired with white pyjamas, and female students in a cream-coloured kurta with white churidar or leggings, or a cream-coloured saree, along with formal footwear.

About IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognised as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Renowned for excellence in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary education, IIT Kanpur spans a 1,050-acre lush green campus and comprises 20 departments, 27 centres, three interdisciplinary programmes, and three specialised schools. With over 570 faculty members and more than 9,500 students, the institute continues to lead in innovation, research, and holistic development.

For more information, please visit: www.iitk.ac.in