The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi inaugurated the All IITs Registrars’ Conclave this week in a major initiative to bolster academic governance and streamline administrative operations across India’s premier engineering institutions.
The three-day event, running from April 18 to April 20, brings together senior administrative leaders from 18 IITs nationwide in one of the most significant gatherings of its kind within the IIT system.
The conclave was officially inaugurated with the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director of IIT Mandi; Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar; and Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur, Director of IIT Jammu, who addressed the gathering virtually. Registrars from key IITs such as Delhi, Bombay, Kanpur, Guwahati, and Roorkee are among the participants, making this conclave a powerhouse of administrative experience and vision.
With the evolving demands of the academic ecosystem, the conclave zeroes in on three pivotal themes: strengthening academic administration, driving institutional automation, and providing robust support for research initiatives. The discussions aim to integrate best practices from both Indian and global contexts, positioning registrars as strategic drivers of institutional excellence.
In his keynote address, Prof. Laxmidhar Behera highlighted the role of ethics and leadership in administrative reforms. Drawing inspiration from the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, he highlighted the importance of values-based decision-making.
Prof. Rajeev Ahuja added a global dimension to the conversation by sharing insights from his academic experience in Sweden.
Highlighting the indispensable role registrars play in sustaining institutional continuity and prestige, he presented a comparative view in his session titled “The Role of Administration in Research: Indian & European Perspectives.”
Prof. Ahuja lauded registrars as the “institutional memory keepers” whose work ensures long-term consistency and operational resilience.
Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur, speaking virtually from IIT Jammu, emphasized the transformative power of automation not only in laboratories but across all facets of institutional management.
As the sessions progress over the coming days, collaborative strategies and cross-institutional frameworks are expected to emerge, laying the foundation for a more agile, efficient, and globally competitive IIT network.
