On Sunday, 4th August 2024, a nature walk was arranged for the newly joined students to sensitize new residents about the flora and fauna of the campus and surrounding area. All the students were divided into small groups leading by a faculty coordinator and volunteers. Students were mesmerized by knowing the beauty and delicacy of the environment surrounding the campus.

From 5 to 9 August 2024, newly joined students were educated about the policies, procedures and other essential aspects of IIT Mandi. They were made aware about different versions of campus life where they are going to live for next 4 years. For the same, a series of guest lectures were organized during 5-9 August. Students got opportunity to have the interactions with eminent personalities during the lectures. Topics of these lectures covered various issues including Drug Abuse, Anti-ragging, Meditation for life, Cyber security, Gender sensitization, session of clinical hypnotherapy. Each day, one hour yoga sessions preceded the lecture series.

Observation of Anti-Ragging Day/Anti-Ragging Week (12-18th August 2024).The institute observed Anti-Ragging Day on 12th August 2024 and Anti-Ragging Week from 12-18 August, 2024. Before that, a guest lecture was arranged 4 days back during the 7DIP. Students were again sensitized about the ragging and its affects on a human life. A Selfie points has been installed in the hostel area for students to take selfie and to be aware of the day/week. Also, Poster making and Essay writing competitions were held by the Artgeeks/Literary clubs of the Cultural Society.

During 9-15 August 2024, the nation participated in “Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan”. IIT Mandi actively involved in this campaign and encouraged each and every student of the institute to take selfie with Tiranga and upload on the portal of the MyGov. Also, Tiranga was mounted on each hostel of the institute under this campaign.

On 14th August 2024, the Drama Club, under Gymkhana staged a play to observe the “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day”. The Min. of Education shared a script along with a video of the drama played by National School of Drama. The script was rewritten and adapted by the Writing Club of Literary Society and the Drama Club performed on the play. A thoughtful speech by Dr. G. Shrikanth Reddy was followed by the Drama.

IIT Mandi celebrated 78th Independence Day of India. The day started with the hoisting of the national flag on the recently mounted mast pole of 100ft height. In the beginning of the Independence Day, Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Hon’ble Director IIT Mandi hoisted the national flag. After the national anthem, The Director observed the march past of security personnel of the institute. A cultural program in the institute auditorium mesmerized the audience with full of joy and the sense of patriotism.

On 18th August, 2024, a full day sports activities were conducted for the newly joined students. During the sports events all of the students participated and competed in different outdoor games like, running, jumping, javelin throw and more. The purpose was to make students cautious about the fitness and importance of sports in life.

On 23rd August 2024, Dean Students Office celebrated the National Space Day, which is celebrated on the commemoration of the landing of Chandrayaan-3 on south pole of the moon in 2023. The day has been celebrated at IIT Mandi with full enthusiasm. IIT Mandi hosted 3 guest lecture which centered around the space technology and opportunity in the field. The lectures also focused on India’s leaps in the field of space Science and technology. Besides, students of IIT Mandi, different schools, surroundings IIT Mandi were also invited to be a part of the celebration. The lectures were followed by various competitions including Quiz, Painting, Hackathon etc. All the winners of competitions were conferred with prizes in different categories.

On 29th August, 2 awareness sessions were conducted for the new entrants. These sessions were conducted in the institute auditorium. In first session, students have been made aware about the medical facilities and services of IIT Mandi. The session covered all aspects from simple precautionary measures to special medical facilities including medications, diagnosis, ambulance service, referral systems etc. The second session covered the security aspect of the institute and the safety measures of the campus residents. In addition the session specifically covered the fire safety and disaster management issues.

Drug abuse is a bottleneck for the development of a cultural society. Government of India is on the verge to eliminate this evil from its root. The “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan” is a campaign of the government which focuses on the elimination of the drug abuse. To contribute to the campaign, IIT Mandi organized various activities including Slogan writing, Painting competition, distribution of IEC materials, e-pledge, Mass pledge, Signing of Anti-Drug Declaration form, Walkathon/Marathon, Film screening, Workshop, an invited talk etc.

As per the directives of the Government of India, IIT Mandi organized a plantation drive under the campaign “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam.” The campaign aims to raise awareness among the younger generation about environmental pollution and to foster a habit of tree planting. The NSS unit of the Dean (S) Secretariat spearheaded the initiative, encouraging campus residents, including faculty, staff, and notably students, to participate in the drive.
The event saw the planting of over 300 saplings, comprising various fruit-bearing trees such as Pear, Plum, Peach, Mango, and Jamun. Drives on both days garnered significant attention from both the campus and the surrounding community. It was deemed a great success and received widespread acclaim from all sectors of the community.

Since its inception in 1968, National Engineers Day has been observed on 15th September, commemorating the birth anniversary of Sir M. Visvesvaraya. This day serves to recognize and honor the invaluable contributions of engineers who have played a pivotal role in shaping a modern and developed India.
In celebration of this occasion, IIT Mandi organized a poster and prototype presentation competition for its doctoral researchers. The event culminated in a formal gathering at the A18 Conference Hall, attended by participants, esteemed guests, and faculty members.
Dr. Ayyangar, our distinguished guest, presented certificates to all participants, acknowledging their efforts and innovations. This event provided a valuable opportunity for participants to engage in meaningful discussions with faculty and eminent guests, fostering collaboration and inspiration within the engineering community.

As per the directives of the Government of India, IIT Mandi organized a series of activities and events focussing on the campaign “Swachhata Hi Seva-2024.” The aims of these activities/events were to raise awareness among the younger generation about environmental pollution and to foster a habit of Cleanliness in all aspects. Following is the list of activities which were held during the campaign:

• Cleanliness drive held in both campus of IIT Mandi.
• Painting competition among students of Govt. Sen. Sec. School, Kamand
• Slogan writing competition among students of IIT Mandi
• Painting competition among students of IIT Mandi
• A cleanliness competition among all Messes/canteens
• Workshop on Menstrual cleanliness among female housekeeping staff
• Awarding the best housekeeping male/female staff in both campuses
• Felicitation ceremony for all the winners
Complete Report

To honor the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a revered tribal revolutionary, on November 15th, IIT Mandi organized a series of commemorative events. On November 16th, essay writing and poster making competitions were held for the students. The evening of November 21st featured a vibrant cultural event with a tribal dance troupe from Lahaul and Spiti, captivating the audience with their traditional dance performance. A floral tribute was also arranged to pay respects to Bhagwan Birsa Munda for his sacrifices.
The Dean (Students), who was the chief guest of the evening, felicitated all competition winners, commending their creativity and thoughtfulness. Dr. Bukke Ravindra Naik, the Nodal Officer, expressed gratitude to everyone for their presence and participation.

Every year, Constitution Day is celebrated on 26th November. This day marks the adoption of the Constitution of India in 1949. The Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day. On this day, various events and activities are organized across the country to promote awareness about the Constitution and its values. Following the same tradition, IIT Mandi also organized the “Reading Session of Preamble” of the Constitution of India. It was attended by students, staff and faculty of the institute.

Fit India Week is an initiative by the Government of India aimed at promoting fitness and healthy living among people of all ages. Initially launched as Fit India School Week in 2019 has since expanded to include colleges, universities, and higher education institutions. During the last week of December 2024, the sports unit of IIT Mandi organized a variety of activities including Volleyball, basketball, Yoga and meditation, badminton and different athletic events. The last day of the events, the Dean (Students) awarded prizes to all the winners of the games. The Sports Advisor, Sport Unit thanked all the participants for making it a great success.

On the occasion of National Girl Child Day, the NSS unit of IIT Mandi organized Poster Making and Essay Writing competitions for the student community of the institute. Aimed at raising awareness among the young generation about the imbalance in the male-female ratio in the country, these competitions served as thought-provoking sessions. Participants not only showcased their artistic creativity but also provided deep insights into the issue of the increasing male-female ratio. Prizes have also been announced for all the winners of the competitions.

On 26th January, IIT Mandi celebrated the 76th Republic Day of India, commemorating the adoption of the Indian Constitution. The celebration took place in the South Campus of IIT Mandi. Early before the commencement of the event, a foot march was conducted in which the Hon’ble Director of IIT Mandi led the North campus residents from North to South campus on the newly developing dedicated road connecting both campuses. The event commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by the Hon’ble Director of IIT Mandi. During this occasion, The Director presented his vision for IIT Mandi and highlighted the institute's significant role in nation-building. His speech was succeeded by a vibrant cultural program, featuring performances by the Dance, Drama, and Music clubs of the Students Gymkhana, Dean (Students) Secretariat. The program concluded with the National Anthem of India. To raise awareness regarding the health and fitness Tug of war competitions were also held among students, staff and faculty community. At the end refreshments were distributed among the campus community.

The most recent episode of Pariksha Pe Charcha took place from 10th to 18th February 2025. This season spanned nine days, featuring various prominent personalities who shared their perspectives not only on academic exams but also on life's challenges. On the first day, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, engaged with schoolchildren from different states of India. He offered solutions to their dilemmas and provided practical tips and valuable insights to help them overcome exam-related challenges. The subsequent episodes featured esteemed individuals, including renowned actress Deepika Padukone, YouTuber Gaurav Chaudhary, nutrition experts Shonali Sabherwal, Rujuta Diwekar, and Revant Himatsingka, spiritual leader Sadhguru, and actors Bhumi Pednekar and Vikrant Massey. Additionally, legendary sports icons MC Mary Kom, Avani Lekhara, and Suhas Yathiraj contributed their insights. The final episode showcased toppers from prestigious exams such as UPSC-CSE, IIT-JEE, CLAT, CBSE, NDA, and ICSE. They shared their success stories and strategies for achieving high marks in board exams. All episodes were live-streamed from IIT Mandi and attended by students from various nearby schools and students from different branches of IIT Mandi.

In February, IIT Mandi celebrated the Indian National Heritage Festival, VIRASAT, marking its second consecutive year. The festival commenced with a five-day workshop on Chamba Rumal, conducted by the renowned artist Ms. Anjali Vakil from Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. The following week, the campus community experienced the rich cultural heritage of India through a series of three cultural evenings. The first evening featured Vidushi Geeta Chandran, a Padmashri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, who captivated the audience with her spellbinding Bharatanatyam dance performances and profound storytelling. The third evening showcased Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, a maestro of the Etawah Gharana and Padma Shri recipient, who mesmerized the audience with his soulful music. The final evening highlighted the traditional dance form of Odisha, Mayurbhanj Chhau, presented by Rakesh Sai Babu, a Sangeet Natak Akademi recipient. Additionally, during the week, two classic movies of world cinema were screened, enriching the festival's diverse cultural offerings.

On February 24th, IIT Mandi commemorated its 16th Foundation Day with great enthusiasm. The esteemed event was graced by The Chief Guest, Shri Rajnath Singh, the Hon’ble Minister of Defence. Among the dignitaries in attendance were Shri Gokul Butail, Chief Advisor (Innovation, Digital Technology and Governance) to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh; Shri Jai Ram Thakur, former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh; Prof. Vinay Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur; Dr. Amit Kumar Pandey, CTO of Space Robotics and AI, Paris, France and Gen. K.J.S. Dhillon (PVSM, UYSM, YSM, VSM), Chairman of the Board of Governors, IIT Mandi and. During the occasion, Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director of IIT Mandi, outlined the institute's future vision in the fields of technology and innovation. Following this, Shri Rajnath Singh, the Minister of Defence delivered a keynote address, expressing his confidence in IIT Mandi's pivotal role in driving advancements in innovation, quantum computing, and defence technology. Subsequently, the Chief Guest conferred awards upon individuals who demonstrated excellence in academic, sports, technical, and cultural events across various Inter-IIT competitions and tournaments. Prior to the commencement of the event, the Chief Guest inaugurated the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) as well as the Guidance and Counselling Cell (GCS Cell). During the lunch, a Naati performance was presented by a troupe from Kullu at the village square. The evening of the Day came alive with the traditional dance Koodiyattam for the state of Kerala performed by Guru Kalamandalam Girija.