IIT Mandi Hosts National Registrars’ Conclave to Strengthen Governance and Administrative Collaboration Across IITs.
Shimla:
In a landmark step toward strengthening academic governance and enhancing administrative collaboration, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has inaugurated a three-day Annual Registrars’ Conclave. The event has brought together registrars from 18 IITs and directors from three institutes across the country, making it one of the most significant administrative congregations within the IIT system in recent years.
The conclave was inaugurated in the presence of Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi; Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar; and registrars from across India. Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur, Director of IIT Jammu, addressed the gathering virtually.
The central focus of the conclave is on reimagining academic administration in the evolving landscape of higher education. Discussions are centered around streamlining institutional processes through automation, enhancing administrative support for research, and fostering a transparent, student-centric governance structure.
Prof. Laxmidhar Behera underscored the importance of values-based leadership, encouraging institutions to draw inspiration from the teachings of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita for governance. “There is no problem in life or governance that has no solution in the Gita,” he remarked. He also urged registrars to build systems that are efficient, transparent, and aligned with student needs.
Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, highlighted the vital role registrars play in maintaining institutional memory and administrative continuity. Drawing from his international experience, he elaborated on “The Role of Administration in Research: Indian and European Perspectives,” stressing the global relevance of a strong administrative backbone.
Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur of IIT Jammu, an expert in institutional automation, emphasized the need for IITs to lead the charge in digital transformation beyond labs and into administrative frameworks. “Registrars must be the torchbearers of this change,” he noted.
Dr. Kumar Sambhav Pandey, Registrar of IIT Mandi, stated that the conclave is a collective effort toward reinforcing the administrative spine of India’s top engineering institutions. “This event is a step toward building a responsive, technology-enabled, and mission-driven administrative ecosystem,” he said.
Participants include esteemed registrars and senior officials from IIT Bhilai, Bhubaneswar, Bombay, Delhi, Dharwad, Gandhinagar, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Mandi, Palakkad, Roorkee, and Ropar. Their insights are expected to significantly contribute to shaping the future of academic administration in India.
The conclave also serves as a platform to exchange mutual challenges and best practices, with sessions focused on improving coordination between academic and administrative arms, ensuring timely implementation of academic processes, and exploring strategic institutional support for research and innovation.
As India positions itself as a global knowledge leader, such collaborative platforms are vital to align governance mechanisms with global standards. The discussions and outcomes of this conclave are expected to shape administrative agendas not only for the IITs but also for other Institutions of National Importance in the years to come.
