{
  "id": 2612001,
  "title": "IIT Bombay Sets Record With 620 PhD Degrees Awarded In Single Academic Year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/iit-bombay-sets-record-with-620-phd-degrees-awarded-in-single",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-22T15:49:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/iit-bombay-sets-record-with-620-phd-degrees-awarded-in-single-academic-year"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) made history by awarding a record-breaking 620 PhD degrees during the 2025-26 academic year, surpassing any other IIT in a single year. This surge in doctoral graduates stemmed from a departmental review of pending research cases, which aimed to support students whose research had been stalled for over eight years. While around 100-125 students saw their research progress, others chose to discontinue their studies, resulting in the institute conferring 3,763 degrees to 3,442 students across the full 2025-26 academic session. The autumn session alone saw 3,333 degrees distributed to 3,042 graduating students, with 351 of these being doctoral degrees. The highest concentrations of PhD awards were in Chemistry (47), Electrical Engineering (30), Mechanical Engineering (27), Biosciences and Bioengineering (24), and Humanities & Social Sciences (23) alongside Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science (both 23). The convocation ceremony, attended by the Chief Guest Prof. Umesh Waghmare, recognized notable alumni Prof. Emeritus Juzer Vasi and alumnus Shashi Shekhar Vempati, as well as top student honors like the President of India Medal to Electrical Engineering BTech student Samar Perwez and the Institute Gold Medal to Vighnesh J. R. in Aerospace Engineering.",
  "summary": "Mumbai: Marking an unprecedented academic landmark, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) awarded a total of 620 PhD degrees during the 2025–26 academic year, setting a record for the highest number of doctorates conferred by any IIT in a single year. PhD Graduates Rise After Review Of Pending Research Cases In the last five years, the number of PhD graduates fluctuated between…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}