ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
IIT’s California conference signals global shift
Concerns over IIT exclusivity persist, but 2026 conference opens doors beyond alumni and nationality now.
-
Shashi Tripathi - Fri, 20, Mar 2026
- 01:43 EDT
- 92
IIT Delhi. / X
As a child growing up in a village on the outskirts of Gorakhpur, I could only dream of the lifestyle I currently live. On a recent trip to India to attend the AI Global Summit in Delhi, I was struck by a feeling of overwhelming gratitude for what I have been able to achieve.
But I didn’t do it alone. I had the backing of one of the most prestigious colleges in the world — the Indian Institute of Technology. The IIT brand has carried many like myself to unthinkable heights, and our story is still unfolding.
ALSO READ: Rice, IIT Madras announce joint research award winners
An evolving technology landscape, i.e., AI, is creating a landscape IITans know well: get ahead. That’s how India emerged from being a country of call centers to a country of global capability centers. It’s how it became the land of global tech giants sharing a stage — even when they are in fierce and direct competition with each other.
My story is a typical one and reflects the drive that Indians have shown abroad, which began with the reputation built by IIT. It’s why the brand grew from the original five to now 23 campuses across India.
But both at home and in the U.S., that drive is in turmoil as geopolitics casts a shadow abroad, and the impact is reverberating back to India. Job demand in the IT sector is in flux as artificial intelligence prevalence begins to take hold, and the squeeze is exacerbated by international policies that would reduce the number of job applicants who can work abroad.
There have been concerns that the brand has been diluted by that growth and that IITans are too exclusive to share the stage of success with other schools that have churned out successful alumni — notably Microsoft’s Satya Nadella from Manipal Institute of Technology.
We are changing that image this year at the IIT 2026 global conference, where we are emphasizing that you don’t have to be an IIT alum, nor do you even have to be Indian, to attend. We welcome all, and that commitment is a firm representation of the brand’s global reach.
ALSO READ: IIT Bombay, UIUC ink student exchange pact
Indians are proud of our heritage, culture and motherland — but we willingly go to foreign lands and make them our homes with equal pride. Consider that though Indians make up only 2% of the U.S. population, they are the highest-earning immigrant group and have contributed to 8% of economic growth.
IITans are not only celebrating 75 years of a successful institution. They are also celebrating the success of the Indian diaspora abroad. It is no longer about one school or one brand, but continuing the legacy that inspired generations of the entire subcontinent.
The author is an executive leader, technology operator, investor, and entrepreneur with over 25 years of global experience driving growth and transformation across technology, healthcare, FinTech, AI/SaaS, and operational excellence sectors.
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad.)
Discover more stories on New India Abroad
Related
.jpg)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login