Latest news with #IITRopar
India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
Indian Army backs IIT Ropar's project to build next-gen surveillance drones
New drone systems under development at IIT Ropar may soon assist the Indian Army in critical surveillance and frontline operations. Inside its Centre of Drones and Autonomous Systems (CoDRAS), a team of researchers and students is working on technologies, learnt the Statesman, that aim to reduce India's dependence on foreign defence focus: building autonomous drones that can land on war-zone terrain and estimate geo-locations in real-time, efforts that reflect India's growing push for indigenous defence job of the team is to fit into a larger national plan which is to reduce India's dependence on foreign drone systems and make its aerial surveillance and response more self-reliant. As part of this, the team is creating next-generation flight algorithms, artificial intelligence for drone navigation, and secure communication elements are being designed to help India's defence forces monitor, respond, and operate with greater control, and without fear of sensitive data leaving national BACKS IIT ROPAR'S DRONE TECH PROJECTSTwo major projects are currently in advanced development. Both have been initiated at the request of the Indian first involves autonomous landing capabilities for drones in war zones, a task that requires precision, reliability, and the ability to adapt to dynamic and rugged terrain. The second project focuses on real-time geo-location and aerial latter project involves more than just mapping. Led by Principal Investigator Dr Jha, with Senior Research Fellow Shivam Kainth and Research Intern Kanwarveer Singh, the team is developing systems that allow drones to identify objects, detect movement, and track changes in physical landscapes, including in thick has direct applications for border surveillance, particularly in areas where human patrol is difficult and visual clarity is a related move, IIT Ropar has also signed an MoU with AVPL, a Gurugram-based drone technology both are planning to develop fully indigenous drones, including the hardware, software, and intelligence that runs will ensure that the entire supply chain, from design to deployment, remains under Indian is happening at IIT Ropar is quiet but determined, a steady step toward technological self-reliance, grounded not in theory, but in readiness for what may come next.- EndsMust Watch
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
IIT Ropar's ‘pookie professor' joins student for sunglasses selfie at convocation; viral video wins the Internet
A delightful video from IIT Ropar's recent convocation ceremony has taken the Internet by storm, and for all the right reasons. The clip, which has racked up over 30 million views, captures a spontaneous and joyful exchange between a graduating student and the institute's director, professor Rajeev Ahuja. In the now-viral footage, a student named Kartik walks up to receive his degree and, mid-photo, turns to professor Ahuja with a mischievous smile and asks if he can wear shades for the picture. The professor chuckles and nods, giving his approval. But Kartik doesn't stop there, he offers a pair of shades to the professor himself. To everyone's surprise and delight, Ahuja swaps his regular spectacles for the sunglasses and joins Kartik in the photo, striking a pose that instantly wins over the crowd. The auditorium erupts in laughter and applause. The video was captioned, 'When your Professor says yes to black shades at convocation… and rocks them too while awarding degrees! Iconic moments only at IIT Ropar.' A post shared by Exploring IITs (@ Responding to the video, an Instagram user wrote, 'I actually liked that he asked his Prof before doing something he wanted to instead of making it a scene.' Ajiolife commented, 'You sure passed the degree but the professor passed the vibe check.' A third person wrote, 'Pookie professor.' A fourth individual commented, 'Back in NITT, we had the most amazing Director who was so much still everyone's hero when we reminisced him! Great Bosses and Great Academic Heads make fantastic places to be at!!' A post shared by Exploring IITs (@ In another clip from the same ceremony, the ever-sporting professor Ahuja is seen posing for fun pictures with other students, flashing Korean finger hearts and peace signs, a refreshing contrast to the usual formality of such events.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Coolest Professor" From IIT Ropar Goes Viral For His Chill Vibe At Convocation
IIT Ropar Viral Professor 2025: A heartwarming video from IIT Ropar's convocation ceremony is melting hearts across the internet. The clip, which has amassed over 27 million views, captures a wholesome and light-hearted moment between a student and his professor. In the video, a student named Kartik walks up on the stage to receive his degree and while doing so, he asks his professor if he can wear sunglasses for the picture. The professor smilingly nods and gives him the approval. Kartik continues and asks his professor to also wear one. Without hesitation, the professor gestures with a playful "Laao" (Give me), takes off his regular glasses, and puts on the sunglasses offered - instantly winning the crowd with his cool and composed demeanor. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Exploring IITs (@ Internet Reacts To The "Pookie Professor" The internet is loving the professor's vibe, with users calling him the "coolest" and dubbing him the "pookie professor." One viral comment reads, "Coolest professor, for real pookie professor." Another wrote, "Aisa professor sabko mile (Everyone should get a professor like this)". Many praised Kartik on how he first asked the professor for his approval. One of the comment read, "I actually liked that he asked his professor before doing something he wanted to instead of making it a scene !". "The combination of coolest professor and student everrrrr", a comment with over 60 thousand likes showed how much people liked both, the student's respect for his professor and the professor's cool nature. Another comment with over 11 thousand likes read, "Rajeev Ahuja sir is a gem ". This video is a reminder that professors who connect with their students in a relaxed and respectful way often become the most cherished ones - the kind students remember long after graduation.
News18
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
‘He‘s Rajeev Ahuja?' Hunt On For ‘Pookie IIT Prof' After His Dab, Korean Heart, Goggles Go Viral
Last Updated: As students came up to receive their degrees, many of them politely asked Prof. Ahuja to strike their favourite poses for a photo. A video from IIT Ropar's 14th annual convocation has gone viral on the internet, and for all the right reasons. The video shows the institute's director, Prof Rajeev Ahuja, happily joining students for quirky poses like the dab, Korean heart and even the trending pookie pose. Internet users can't stop praising the professor for his cool and fun attitude. The convocation ceremony was held recently in Punjab. A total of 720 degrees were awarded this year. But what caught everyone's attention wasn't just the numbers — it was a heartwarming moment between the students and the director. As students came up to receive their degrees, many of them politely asked Prof. Ahuja to strike their favourite poses for a photo. To everyone's surprise, he agreed to every single one of them. With a cheerful smile, he did the dab, made finger hearts, and even posed like 'pookie." One clip shows him putting on sunglasses, which made the crowd erupt with cheers. That one move with the shades became a highlight of the event. The video was shared on the social media page IIT Ropar Diaries, where it gathered over 5 lakh views in just one day. The caption read, 'Convocation fit Degree The internet showered the professor with love and respect. One comment read, 'When your IIT is 2nd gen but the Director is the OG." Another said, 'The professor should live longer… teach longer… God bless him." Who Is Rajeev Ahuja Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, often seen as a serious academic, has now earned the title of 'coolest prof" online. But who is he? Rajeev Ahuja is a renowned Professor of Computational Materials Science at Uppsala University, Sweden. He is currently serving as the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, India. From November 2023 to May 2024, he also held the additional charge of Director at IIT Guwahati. Prof. Ahuja is among the most highly cited researchers in his field and is ranked among the top five materials scientists in both Sweden and India. He completed his Ph.D. in 1992 from IIT Roorkee, India. In the same year, he joined Uppsala University as a post-doctoral fellow. He was appointed as a Professor at Uppsala University in 2007. view comments First Published: July 18, 2025, 09:32 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Entrepreneur
10-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Dharmendra Pradhan, Jayant Chaudhary Inaugurate UP Agritech Innovation Hub to Modernise Farming
The hub aims to bring together farmers, technologists, researchers, innovators, and stakeholders from state agricultural departments, academia, and agri-tech startups to co-create and adopt region-specific, scalable solutions. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. In a major step towards modernising Indian agriculture, Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State for Skill Development and Education Shri Jayant Chaudhary jointly inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh Agritech Innovation Hub and Agritech Startup and Technology Showcase at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT), Meerut today. The event witnessed the presence of several dignitaries, including Surya Pratap Shahi, Cabinet Minister for Agriculture in Uttar Pradesh, Prof Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, and Dr K.K. Singh, Vice Chancellor of SVPUAT. Addressing the gathering, Pradhan lauded SVPUAT for designing an education system that responds to the changing needs of the agriculture sector. "The dream of a developed India cannot be fulfilled without prosperous villages and empowered farmers," he said. "This innovation hub is a meaningful and historic step toward that vision." He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fostering tech-led agricultural innovation nationwide. Highlighting the Union Budget's announcement of a Centre for Excellence in AI for Agriculture, he said, "The responsibility given to IIT Ropar has now taken shape through this hub. The soul of India lies in its farms. We must empower our farmers with cutting-edge technology." Pradhan emphasised the need for chemical-free and natural farming, especially in light of global food challenges and climate change. "This hub will accelerate the transformation of India's agricultural economy, particularly in North India," he added. Jayant Chaudhary underlined the hub's role in empowering rural youth and enabling farmers to become leaders in precision agriculture. "True transformation begins when innovation takes root in the soil," he said. "This is more than a project, it's a movement. Farmers, startups, and researchers will now co-create solutions that are both sustainable and scalable." He added, "Technology becomes truly meaningful when it remains grounded in the reality it aims to change. This hub reflects that vision." The event included a Technology Demonstration at SVPUAT's Model Smart Farm, where an MoU was signed between IIT Ropar and SVPUAT to promote academic and research collaboration in agritech. An exhibition showcased the work of 20 agritech startups, and several progressive farmers were felicitated for their contributions to sustainable agriculture. The Agri-tech Innovation Hub is equipped with IoT-enabled sensors, smart irrigation, automation tools, and real-time data analytics. Backed by IIT Ropar's Cyber-Physical Systems Lab with a support of INR 75 lakhs, the hub aims to build a collaborative ecosystem that connects farmers, technologists, and innovators. Workshops and training sessions will be conducted regularly, engaging Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to ensure the practical adoption of innovations on the ground. This initiative marks a pivotal moment in Indian agriculture where innovation meets tradition to ensure that farmers not only feed the nation but also thrive within a sustainable, tech-enabled future.
