Jaishankar to Inaugurate Shaastra 2026 at IIT Madras

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will inaugurate Shaastra 2026, the annual technical festival of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, on January 2. The five-day, student-managed event will run until January 6 and is expected to attract more than 80,000 visitors from across India and abroad, reaffirming its status as one of the country’s largest technology festivals.

Scale and Significance of Shaastra 2026

Now in its 27th edition, Shaastra 2026 will host a wide range of competitions, exhibitions, workshops, conferences, and technology showcases. Addressing a press conference, V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, said the festival will be part of a broader 15-day engagement window that also includes the institute’s Open House and Saarang, its annual social and cultural festival. This integrated approach is aimed at enhancing public engagement with science, technology, and innovation.

IIT Madras Global Foundation Launch

During the inauguration, Jaishankar will also launch the IIT Madras Global Foundation. The foundation is envisaged as a central platform to strengthen the institute’s international outreach. Its focus areas include transfer of technologies, global academic and industry partnerships, support for IIT Madras start-ups, and facilitation of international investment opportunities. The institute has tentatively planned global outposts in the United States, Germany, Malaysia, and Dubai to deepen its global presence.

Academic Outreach and Educators Conclave

A key academic initiative under Shaastra 2026 will be the Educators Conclave organised through the Vidya Vahak programme. The conclave will provide specialised masterclasses and networking opportunities for educators. According to IIT Madras, around 150 teachers from government schools in tribal regions will be trained in basic pedagogy, foundational AI-ML tools, and simulation-based teaching methods, highlighting the festival’s emphasis on inclusive capacity building.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Shaastra is the annual technical festival of IIT Madras.
• IIT Madras plans global outposts in the US, Germany, Malaysia, and Dubai.
• Vidya Vahak focuses on teacher training and educational outreach.
• Transfer of Technologies (ToT) is a key component of IIT-industry collaboration.

Innovation, Sponsorships, and Distinguished Speakers

Shaastra 2026 will feature several first-of-its-kind events, including Robo GP, a high-speed robotic racing challenge, NeuroHack, a brain–computer interface hackathon, and E-Contest, a large-scale coding competition. The institute has raised ₹1.68 crore in sponsorships, a 29.4 per cent increase over last year. The festival will also host lectures by global leaders such as Jeffrey Ullman, Subra Suresh, and Vidita Vaidya, underscoring Shaastra’s growing international stature.