Convocation 2026 Schedule (Nov 2–4) | Thapar Institute, Patiala

Main Ceremony Schedule

Prog Type	Programme/Branch	Count	Date of Convocation	Session	Issue of Gown	Last entry in Auditorium	Return of Gown By
PhD	PhD, Medal Winners of all Programmes	100	02-Nov-26	I	08:00 AM – 09:00 AM	9:15 AM	2:00 PM
PG	MA, TSLAS, BE/BTech (BME, EIC, MEE, MEC)	312	02-Nov-26	II	11:30 AM – 01:30 PM	2:45 PM	5:00 PM
UG	BE (ECE, ELE)	313	02-Nov-26	III	02:00 PM – 03:30 PM	4:00 PM	6:00 PM
PG	ME/MTech, BE(EEC)	316	03-Nov-26	I	08:00 AM – 09:30 AM	9:45 AM	2:00 PM
UG	BE(COE – Reg No. 102203001 - 102203330)	312	03-Nov-26	II	08:45 AM – 10:15 AM	11:00 AM	3:00 PM
UG	BE(COE – Reg No. 102203331 - 102203670)	312	03-Nov-26	III	10:30 AM – 11:30 PM	12:15 PM	5:00 PM
UG	BE(COE – Reg No. 102203671 - 102233001)	312	03-Nov-26	IV	01:00 PM – 02:00 PM	2:45 PM	6:00 PM
	BE(COE – Reg No. 102253001 onwards), BE(COBS), MCA	315	03-Nov-26	V	02:30 PM – 03:30 PM	4:00 PM	6:00 PM
UG	MBA, MSc, BE(CHE)	319	04-Nov-26	I	09:00 AM – 10:00 AM	10:45 AM	2:00 PM
UG	BE(ENC – Reg No. 102215001 - 102215359)	312	04-Nov-26	II	09:30 AM – 11:15 AM	12:00 PM	3:00 PM
UG	BE(ENC – Reg No. 102265001 onwards), BE(COPC)	309	04-Nov-26	III	11:30 AM – 01:30 PM	2:45 PM	5:00 PM
UG	BE/BTech (COSE, CIE, BT)	307	04-Nov-26	IV	02:00 PM – 03:30 PM	4:00 PM	6:00 PM

Chief Guest
The Present Governor - Punjab

Shri Gulab Chand Kataria

Hon'ble Governor of Punjab & Administrator U.T., Chandigarh

Shri Gulab Chand Kataria is the 37th Governor of Punjab. Hon’ble Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr. Sheel Nagu administered the oath of office to the new Governor on July 31, 2024.

Shri Gulab Chand Kataria was the 31st Governor of Assam for the period from 22.02.2023 to 30.07.2024. Shri Gulab Chand Kataria hails from Udaipur, Rajasthan.

He was the former Home Minister of Rajasthan and the leader of the opposition in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly prior to his appointment as the Governor of Assam.

Some of the notable achievements credited to him are he was the Home Minister in the Government of Rajasthan from 31st May 2004 to 8th December 2008 and again from 2015 to 2018. He was a senior leader of the BJP from Rajasthan and was also a member of the central working committee of the party. He hails from Udaipur and represented it in the 9th Lok Sabha, from 1989-1991. He was also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 24th August 2002 to December 2003, again from 21st February 2013 to 10th December 2013, and from 17th January 2019 to 2023 till his appointment as the Governor of Assam.

Shri Gulab Chand Kataria served as the Education Minister of the State from 1993 to 1998. He also served as Minister, Public Works Department from 8th December 2003 to 30th May 2004. He was the Minister, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Disaster Management and Relief Department from 2013 to 2015.

Shri Kataria was born to Late Hukmi Chand Kataria and Late Lahari Bai on 13th October 1944. He pursued his Masters in Geography from Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur. He also studied Law from Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur. He is married to Smt. Anita Kataria and has five daughters. He also received the Excellent Teacher Award by Jiwanmal Nahata Memorial Trust, New Delhi on 5th September 2006.

DISTINGUISHED
ALUMNUS AWARDEE

Mr. Vinod K. Luthra, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 1966, is a distinguished alumnus of Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, engineer, inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Rochester, New York. After graduating from Thapar with honours, he pursued an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis and went on to build an accomplished career in industrial research, plastics and packaging technology, including leadership roles at Mobil Plastics.

A named inventor on multiple U.S. patents, his work spans polymer processing, foam technology and advanced food-packaging systems. In 1981, he founded Barrington Residential, which grew into a significant family-owned multifamily housing enterprise in Upstate New York.

Mr. Luthra has maintained a strong connection with his alma mater through merit-cum-means scholarships supporting students in Mechanical and Civil Engineering and was honoured with TIET’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2019. Together with his wife, Dr. Vinay Luthra, he has also supported education, healthcare and community initiatives in India and the United States, most recently making a $2 million commitment to establish the Vinod and Vinay Luthra Family Distinguished Professorship in Urology at the University of Rochester. His six-decade journey from Thapar to Rochester reflects an enduring commitment to engineering, enterprise, education and giving back.

Vinod Kumar Luthra

President at Barrington Residential

Dignitaries on the Dais

CHIEF GUEST

Shri Gulab Chand Kataria

Hon'ble Governor of Punjab & Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh

Shri Gulab Chand Kataria is the 37th Governor of Punjab. A distinguished public servant from Udaipur, Rajasthan, he has held several prominent positions in state and national governance.

Dr. Rajeev Ranjan Vederah

Chancellor, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology

Mr. Rajeev Ranjan Vederah brings over five decades of leadership experience in industry, business strategy and institutional governance.

Dr. Rajeev Ranjan Vederah

An alumnus of IIT Delhi and Aston University, UK, he has held several senior leadership positions, including Managing Director and Executive Vice Chairman of Ballarpur Industries Limited (BILT). Recognised as Asian CEO of the Year in 2011, he has played a significant role in industrial expansion, technological advancement and international business development. As Chancellor of TIET, he brings extensive industry experience and strategic insight to the Institute's continued growth and development.

Prof. Padmakumar Nair

Vice-Chancellor, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology

Prof. Padmakumar Nair is an academic leader, researcher and educator with over 38 years of international experience across academia, industry and consulting.

Prof. Padmakumar Nair

He has worked extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia, including leadership roles at the University of Texas at Dallas. His academic interests span innovation in higher education, leadership development, nanostructured materials and sustainability. With doctoral qualifications from the University of Twente and the University of Tokyo, he brings a multidisciplinary perspective to institutional leadership. His philosophy, “Empathy is the Mother of Excellence,” reflects his approach to education and organisational development.

Prof. Ajay Batish

Pro Vice-Chancellor & Chief Academic Officer, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology

Prof. Ajay Batish brings nearly three decades of academic experience and nine years of industry expertise to his role as Pro Vice-Chancellor…

Prof. Ajay Batish

…and Chief Academic Officer at TIET. A Professor of Mechanical Engineering, his research focuses on advanced manufacturing, process optimisation and industrial engineering. He has played a central role in strengthening the Institute's academic quality, international collaborations and accreditation processes, including ABET, NAAC and NBA. Through his academic and administrative leadership, he continues to contribute to curriculum development, experiential learning and the advancement of engineering education at TIET.

Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai

Distinguished Scientist | Aerospace and Defence Technologist

Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai is one of India's distinguished aerospace and defence scientists, widely recognised as the “Father of BrahMos” for his pioneering role…

Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai

…in developing the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. He served as Chief Controller of Research and Development at DRDO and as Founder CEO and Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace. Having worked closely with Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, he has contributed significantly to India's space and indigenous defence technology programmes. A recipient of the Padma Shri (2002) and Padma Bhushan (2013), his career reflects decades of scientific leadership and technological innovation.