33rd Convocation
Nirma University hosted its 33rd Convocation Ceremony on Nov 22, 2024, where 2,780 students graduated, including 1,884 undergraduate, 861 postgraduate, and 35 doctoral students. The ceremony was graced by Hon’ble Shri Sanjib Kumar Behera, Executive Director & State Head (Gujarat) of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, as the Chief Guest. Dr Karsanbhai K Patel, President of Nirma University, presided over the event. A total of 66 medals were awarded to 56 students, including 30 female and 26 male medallists, recognising their exceptional academic performance.
Conferences, Workshops, and Seminars
American Chemical Society Toxicology India Chapter Conference
American Chemical Society Toxicology India Chapter (ACS TOXI INDIA 2024) conference was organised by the American Chemical Society-Division of Chemical Toxicology India in collaboration with the Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, and the Scientific Educational Conferences International Forum on Oct 14-15, 2024. Prof Grover P Miller, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, USA was the Chief Guest. The conference explored the theme ‘The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Assessing Human Toxicity of Xenobiotics and Environmental Hazards.’
National Conference on Labour and Industrial Law
The Institute of Law hosted a national conference on ‘Contemporary Issues and Challenges in Labour and Industrial Laws’ on Oct 18-19, 2024. At the conference’s inauguration, Hon’ble Mr Justice M C Patel was the Chief Guest, and Shri Ajay Tomar, Retd IPS Officer was the Guest of Honour. The conference consisted of a total of four technical sessions on themes such as industrial relations; wages; social security; and, occupational safety, health and working conditions followed by a panel discussion on the conference theme. The conference provided a dialogue for government representatives, trade unions and employers’ representatives to discuss various contemporary issues relating to Labour and Industrial laws. The valedictory session was chaired by Dr Rekhakumari Singh, Dean (I/c) of Faculty of Law, Sardar Patel University and Shri Vipul Pandya, President, Bandhkam Mazdoor Sangh along with Dr Madhuri Parikh, Director and Dean (I/c) Institute of Law, Nirma University.
Utkrishta: The Management Conclave
The Institute of Management hosted its flagship conclave, Utkrishta 2024, on Oct 18-19, 2024. The event brought together industry leaders, students, and faculty to explore transformative ideas shaping the future of business. The inaugural session featured Mr Mihir Joshi (CEO of GVFL) giving insights on leadership demands. Other notable speakers included Ms Vijeta Soni (CEO and Co-founder of Sciative), Dr Saheli Sinha (Director-Operations, ASCI), Mr Srinivas Bhattacharya (Head-Insights, Tata Consumer Products), and Mr Chintan Dudhela (Business Head, Finnovate) covering topics like self-regulation in advertising, insights-driven growth, and innovative wealth strategies.
Day two continued with tracks on data-driven decision-making, digital transformation, and next-gen workforce onboarding, led by experts including Mr Jishnu Guha (Director, Credit Analysis, Standard Chartered Bank), Mr Mukur Shah (Vice President, Adani Power), and Mr Abhay Kapoor (Head of HR, IR, and Administration, Suzuki Motor Gujarat Pvt Ltd). The event concluded with Mr Dhaval Sheth (Partner, Grant Thornton) who shared consulting insights through case studies.
Seminar on Nano Drug Delivery
A seminar on Nano Drug Delivery (SNDD-2024) was organised by the Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmacy, in association with the Centre for Continuing Education, and the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, Nirma University on Oct 22, 2024. The seminar opened with an inaugural session, featuring Dr Mahesh Paithankar, Vice President of NDDS, Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, as the Chief Guest. Dr Paithankar delivered a talk on ‘Nano Drug Delivery in Modern Medicine’, focusing on the role of nano-based systems in contemporary therapeutic strategies. Other sessions included a talk on ‘Innovative Formulation and Development Technology in the Biopharmaceutical Division’ by Dr Chandresh Bhatt, Senior Manager, Kashiv Biosciences, and an online session on ‘Characterisation and Optimisation of Nanoparticle Size and Stability’ by Dr Namrata Jain, Application Scientist at Horiba India Pvt Ltd. The seminar-cum-workshop also included a demonstration of equipment like particle size analyser (zetasizer), lipid extruder, E-spin, 3-D printer, high-speed homogenizer, high-pressure homogenizer, FTIR, DSC, etc., thus showcasing advanced instrumentation for nanoparticle formulation and characterisation. This gave participants practical insights into the technologies used in drug delivery research and development, and their scope and challenges.
Manak Mahotsav
BIS Standards Club and IGBC Students’ Chapter, Institute of Technology organised ‘Manak Mahotsav’ on Oct 14, 2024 (World Standards Day), and Oct 15, 2024 (National Student’s Day). The event featured a Research Revolution session led by Dr B S Munjal, faculty at the Institute of Technology, Nirma University. Participants showcased their skills in competitions like the Sustainability Solutions Sprint and Plan It Right, where they devised eco-friendly civil engineering solutions within the given timeframes. The event concluded with an inspiring leadership session by ex-Captain Smitha Naidu, Associate Director at IQVIA, who shared essential lessons on leadership in both corporate and personal realms.
Workshop on Advanced Techniques in Cosmetic Formulation and Testing
The Department of Pharmacognosy, Institute of Pharmacy hosted a workshop on ‘Advanced Techniques in Cosmetic Formulation and Testing’ on Nov 7, 2024. The workshop included engaging presentations by Dr Maheshvari Patel, Founder & COO of NovoBliss Research, who discussed advanced instrumental techniques for assessing the safety and efficacy of dermatological products; Ms Vikhyati Dedania, Founder & Director of Nichessential Care, Ahmedabad, spoke on trends, consumer insights, and evaluations in hair care products; and Mr Mihir Bhatt, Assistant Manager at Brillare Science Pvt Ltd, led a hands-on training session in cosmetic formulation and testing.
IP Conclave 2.0
The Centre of Intellectual Property Rights at the Institute of Law organised IP Conclave 2.0 on Nov 22, 2024. Esteemed speakers, including Mr Pranay Bali (Partner, ALG India Law Offices LLP), Mr Abhishek Gurbani (Partner, Saikrishna & Associates), Ms Ankita Sabharwal (Senior Associate, Chadha & Chadha), and Ms Sunaina Brahma (Senior Associate, Khaitan & Co), shared their insights. The conclave covered various contemporary topics including effective enforcement strategies for trademark protection, legal challenges of content creation from an IP perspective, ethical and legal boundaries in data processing done by the businesses and comparative advertising agencies.
Workshop on Child Rights Legislation
The Centre for Child Rights Advocacy and Centre for Social Justice, Institute of Law organised a workshop on ‘Child Rights Legislation’ in collaboration with the United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) and Sauhard (NGO) on Nov 14, 2024. Shri Rahul Trivedi, Secretary of Gujarat State Legal Service Authority; Dr Dharmang Baxi, Professor, Institute of Law; Shri Divya Bhagia, CEO – Sauhard; Mr Indrajeet Chauhan, Representative, Prayas (NGO); and Ms Prita Jha, Representative, Peace and Equality Cell (NGO) were the key speakers at the event.
iRISE ECR Capacity Building Workshop
The Directorate of Research and Innovation, Nirma University, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, jointly organised the ‘Early Career Researcher Capacity Building Programme’ under the initiative of Inspiring India in Research Innovation and STEM Education (iRISE) from Dec 3-5, 2024. The programme’s main objective was to upskill early career researchers by fostering interdisciplinary growth, enhancing professional skills, and providing industry exposure through internships to ensure success in academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. Around 80 full-time doctoral students of Nirma University participated in the workshop that covered sessions by eminent experts from Academia and Industry, Hands-on Training, Group Discussion, and Interactive sessions.
Pratidhwani – The Alumni Conclave
The Institute of Management, hosted ‘Pratidhwani’, the Alumni Conclave on Dec 7, 2024 with industry leaders and alumni like Mr Chintan Mehta, Ms Ayushi Godha, and Mr Rajat Gupta. The event covered topics such as sustainable economies, generative AI, and financial inclusion, promoting ideas for sustainability, innovation, and growth.
Workshop on Lean Six Sigma
Institute of Management organised a workshop on KPMG Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification on Sep 8, 2024, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of process optimisation techniques. The workshop was led by seasoned professionals, Shashank Shrivastava, Lean Six Sigma Consultant at KPMG, and Praveen Pavithran, Assistant Manager at KPMG focusing on key aspects such as data analysis, root cause identification, and continuous improvement.
Workshop on Mediation Theory
The Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR), Institute of Law organised a ‘Mediation Workshop’ on Nov 23-24, 2024. Resource persons included Adv Amar N Bhatt, Adv Hriday Buch, Adv Priyadarshini A Vakil, Adv Nishant Lalakia, Adv Manan Bhatt, and Adv Archit Jani.
Celebration of Important Days
Teachers Day
On the occasion of Teachers Day, students from the Institute of Pharmacy hosted several engaging activities, such as Balloon cup stacking, quizzes, tongue twisters, faculty memes, and poem recitation, among others, for teaching and non-teaching staff on Sep 5, 2024.
Hindi Diwas
The Institute of Commerce celebrated the Hindi Diwas on Sep 13, 2024 by inviting Mr Nazim Murad, a poet who mesmerised the audience with his poetry. Further, renowned radio jockey, Mr Subhash Gadhvi, reflected on the rich heritage and culture of our nation and emphasised the importance of Hindi as a language.
Celebrations at the Institute of Law included lively dance performances that showcased the vibrancy of the Hindi language, bridging connections among diverse individuals, and a ‘Kavi Sammelan’, a gathering of student poets, faculty, and established poets, showcasing their talent and highlighting the cultural richness that has thrived through Hindi music and cinema.
International Literacy Day
LITWITS, the Literary Committee of the Institute of Commerce, hosted an Essay Writing Competition, and the Presentation Showdown on Sep 9, 2024 on the theme ‘The Role of Multilingual Education in Bridging Cultural Gaps and Fostering Global Peace.’
World Pharmacist Day
World Pharmacist Day 2024, celebrated on September 25, was marked by a unique initiative at Jeevansandhya Old Age Home in Naranpura, Ahmedabad. The PharmD and BPharm students conducted a health camp where they performed essential health checkups, including BMI measurement, glucose testing, and blood pressure monitoring. The session highlighted practical interventions to improve their well-being, demonstrating the role of pharmacists in community service.
Gandhi Jayanti
LITWITS, the Literary Committee of the Institute of Commerce, organised an online quiz competition to mark the Gandhi Jayanti Celebrations on Oct 2, 2024. The quiz covered topics like Mahatma Gandhi’s life and philosophy, Indian history, and Freedom struggle.
Constitution Day
The NSS Unit of the Institute of Management marked the 75th Constitution Day on Nov 26, 2024. Shri Manish Panday, Joint Director at the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Gujarat, highlighted the importance of the Constitution and its core principles, such as secularism and sovereignty. The event celebrated India’s constitutional values with thought-provoking discussions and a speech competition where Renab Jha secured first place, followed by Aayush and Maharishi Jha.
The Institute of Law celebrated the Constitution Day by organising an Essay Writing competition on ‘Exploring Writ Jurisdiction in India’, a Constitutional Law Quiz, and an extempore Debate on Constitutional Law proposition.
World Meditation Day
In line with the United Nations General Assembly’s declaration of December 21 as World Meditation Day, Nirma University observed the occasion with an expert talk by the eminent cardiologist, Padma Bhushan Dr Tejasbhai M Patel. Dr Patel, shared profound insights on meditation, including how it has shaped his life. A lively question-and-answer session followed, where students and staff posed intriguing questions to Dr Patel.
The session also included an address by Dr Karsanbhai K Patel, President, Nirma University, who shared his experiences with meditation and elaborated on the difference between Dhyana and Yoga, provided guidance on practising impactful meditation, and imparted valuable life lessons derived from mindful practices. Other dignitaries present on this occasion included, Mr Apurva Amin, a renowned architect; Shri K K Patel, Vice President, Nirma University; Mr Jagdishbhai Patel, an entrepreneur ; and Dr Anup K Singh, Director General, Nirma University.
Expert Talks
Mr Sangram Gokhale, Consultant, Scientific Solutions, ACS International India Pvt Ltd gave a talk on ‘Demonstration of CAS SciFinder-N and CAS SciFinder Discovery Platform’ at the Institute of Pharmacy on Sep 3, 2024.
Mr Saurabh Kasat, CFO, Dairy Classic Ice Cream Pvt Ltd gave a talk on ‘How to Become a Better Finance Professional’ at the Institute of Management on Sep 4, 2024.
Mr Ajay Kumar, former Defence Secretary gave insights about Indian Defence Sector, and guided the participants for upcoming startups in this sector at the Institute of Management on Sep 6, 2024.
Mr Heeru Tejwani, Senior Vice President at Motilal Oswal Private Wealth delivered a keynote address on ‘Roadmap to Fixed Income’ at the Institute of Management on Sep 12, 2024.
Mr Udayan Vyas, an advocate, took a session on ‘Public Interest Litigation: Manner and Craft’ at the Institute of Law on Sep 12, 2024. The session focused on the three key parts of PIL, providing valuable insights into the importance of understanding its qualification, evolution, and structural elements.
Dr Chetna Desai, Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, and Coordinator – Regional Training Centre & ADR Monitoring Centre, BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad gave a talk on ‘Know Your Medicines’ as part of the National Pharmacovigilance Week celebrations on Sep 19, 2024.
Dr Pallavi Bharadwaj, Assistant Professor, IIT Gandhinagar gave a talk on ‘Role of Power Electronics in Net Zero Transition’ at the Institute of Technology on Sep 20, 2024.
Advocate Amit Panchal delivered an expert talk on ‘Public Interest Litigation (PIL)’ at the Institute of Law on Oct 19, 2024.
Ms Dharmistha Raval, Executive Director (Retd) SEBI, and Senior Advocate delivered a talk on ‘Frauds in the Indian Capital Market: A Legal Perspective’ at the Institute of Law on Nov 16, 2024.
Mr Amar Pendse, Managing Director at PwC conducted a session on ‘Are You Ready to Excel as a Consultant?’ at the Institute of Management on Nov 21, 2024.
Dr Yashvant V Pathak, Professor and Associate Dean at USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy conducted a session on ‘Back to Square One: A Passage Towards Precision Medicine’ at the Institute of Pharmacy on Dec 16, 2024.Other Events and Activities
Smart India Hackathon
E-Cell Nirma University successfully concluded its highly anticipated Smart India Hackathon, a flagship event designed to unite some of the brightest minds in the tech community on Sep 16, 2025. With over 110 teams (660 students) participating, the event served as a dynamic platform for participants to transform their innovative ideas into practical solutions, fostering a spirit of healthy competition. The event was divided into two segments: the Software edition and the Hardware edition. The projects were evaluated by a distinguished panel of experts in technology and entrepreneurship.
Celebrating 10 Years of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
On Sep 21, 2024, the NCC Unit and the Students’ Welfare Board, Nirma University organised a cleanliness drive as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The event took place at the Tragad Talav, located near the Nirma University campus. NCC cadets actively participated in the cleanliness initiative, where they conducted thorough cleaning in and around the Tragad Talav area. The team successfully collected approximately 40 kilograms of waste, significantly enhancing the beauty of the area and its surroundings.
Orientation Programme
The Institute of Architecture and Planning organised Orientation Week for the first-semester BArch students from Aug 29 to Sep 10, 2024. The programme included hands-on workshops, including Origami, Fun with Colors, Clay, Murals, and Model-making.
Foundation Day
The Institute of Management marked its 29th Foundation Day on Sep 24, 2024 with a grand celebration. The event commenced with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, followed by an insightful address by the Chief Guest, Lieutenant General Suresh Sharma, recipient of the prestigious Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM). He shared valuable management lessons on leading a fulfilling life. The ceremony also included the distribution of awards recognising outstanding student achievements and vibrant cultural performances.
The Institute of Science celebrated its 21st Foundation Day on Sep 6, 2024. Prof Anamik Shah, former Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Vidyapith was the Chief Guest, and Prof Sangita Shroff, Director, Institute of Design, Nirma University presided over the event. Prof Ashok Sharma, AIIMS, New Delhi, delivered a keynote address on ‘Futuristic Emerging Trends in Chemical and Biological Sciences: New Challenges and Opportunities.’ The guests released the annual magazine ‘DeNoVo’ of the Institute of Science on this occasion. The event concluded with cultural performances by students.
NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024
Nirma University’s Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell) hosted the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024 during Oct 5-7, 2024. This global hackathon, known for fostering creativity and driving innovation, attracted over 750 participants, including students and faculty from diverse institutions across the country, creating an inspiring atmosphere of scientific collaboration and discovery. Prof Anil Bhardwaj, Director, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad inaugurated the event. Over three days, participants engaged in a series of problem statements provided by NASA, spanning fields such as space exploration, climate change, earth observation, and data visualisation under the guidance of expert mentors. The event concluded with an inspiring series of presentations where teams showcased their most promising solutions.
Foundation Day
Institute of Commerce celebrated its 9th Foundation Day on Oct 7, 2024, attended by around 300 students, faculty, and distinguished guests, the day featured a mix of cultural performances and academic discussions. The event began with cultural performances from student clubs like Natraj (Dance), Tarang (Music), and Rangshala (Theatre). Chief Guest Shri S B Singh, Executive Director, Indian Bank delivered a keynote address on ‘India’s Growth Story.’ The event further included a business plan competition ‘Empowering India: An Innovative Challenge,’ where students presented creative solutions for sustainability, financial inclusion, and technology. The day concluded with the distribution of awards for academic and extracurricular achievements.
The Institute of Technology marked its 30th Foundation Day with a grand celebration in the august presence of Shri Piyush Shah, Founder of Hi-Rel Electronics Private Limited, Shri K K Patel, Vice-President of Nirma University, and Dr Anup K Singh, Director General of Nirma University. The event celebrated the institute’s legacy while also looking forward to continued excellence and innovation in the future. The Nirma Volunteaching Movement (NVM), NSS (School of Engineering), and Organization of Civil Engineering Student’s (Orces) organised a special event on Oct 3, 2024. This remarkable event brought together children from Miroli village and members of the Blind People’s Association, Vastrapur, for a day filled with learning, inspiration, and the celebration of talent.
The Institute of Pharmacy celebrated its 21st Foundation Day on Oct 1, 2024. The event was inaugurated by Dr Madhavi Joshi, Scientist D and Joint Director at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Gandhinagar. Various competitions, including rangoli, T-shirt painting, elocution, extempore, and poetry, were held to showcase students’ talents. Awards were presented to alumni, faculty, students, and staff for their outstanding achievements.
Technocalypse 2024: Visit for School Students
The Mechanical Engineering Students’ Association (MESA), Institute of Technology organised a visit for school students ‘Technocalypse 2024’ on Oct 5-6, 2024. A total of 110 students from various schools in Ahmedabad participated in this event. The participants attended hands-on workshops on Computer Aided Design, Automobile, and Robotics. On the second day, the participants presented posters on the theme ‘Futuristic Development in Robotics and Automobile’ and participated in a robotic competition.
Raas Garba 2024
The vibrant celebration of ‘Raas Garba 2024′ took place at the Nirma University campus on Oct 19, 2024. Organised by the Students’ Welfare Board in collaboration with the Institute of Management, the event attracted over 7,000 participants, including university officials, faculty, staff, and students. The evening was filled with energy and excitement as attendees performed the traditional Garba to the lively rhythms of Raag Mehta and his team. Judges for the evening, Mr Mayankbhai Dave and Mr Tushar Vyas, awarded trophies for the best performances and best-dressed participants.
Sannidhya: Alumni Day 2024
The Institute of Management organised ‘Sannidhya: Alumni Day 2024’ on Oct 5, 2024. The day started with a warm welcome with fun activities that sparked laughter and friendly competition, followed by a General Body Meeting, and a silver jubilee celebration for the 1999 batch. It was followed by performances by various clubs, a campus walkathon, garba night, and an executive dinner.
Nirma Trading League
The Institute of Management organised Nirma Trading League (NTL), an intra-B-school portfolio management competition, held from Nov 12-14, 2024, competing on the StockGro platform. Starting with a virtual capital of Rs 10,00,000, contestants traded in real-time equities over three days, aiming to maximise portfolio returns. The top performers shared a prize pool of Rs 25,000. The event provided a practical platform for applying trading skills and fostering competitive excellence.
Rostrum 2024
The Institute of Pharmacy celebrated its annual cultural fest ‘Rostrum 2024’ on Nov 16-17, 2024. With over 300 students participating, the event featured an exciting line-up of 15 activities, including singing, dancing, drama, Ad-Mad, Mr and Ms Rostrum, instrumental performances, street plays, mono-acting, and mimicry. Mr Prashant Barot, a Gujarati actor, was the Chief Guest at the Valedictory Function.
Drug Awareness Session
Institute of Pharmacy in collaboration with the Lions Club of Ahmedabad Vibrant Femina, conducted a Drug Awareness Session for the first-year BPharm students on Nov 26, 2024. Led by trained experts, Dr Shraddha Bhadada and Shri Mukesh Chopra, the session covered critical topics, including the dangers of drug use, recognising the signs of drug abuse, strategies to resist peer pressure, and resources for seeking help with drug addiction. Notable guests included Shri Harish Trivedi (District Governor), Shri Devendra Mehta (Coordinator of Drug Awareness), and Ms Rakhi Jain (President, Drug Awareness).
Intra-University Sports Tournament
Every year, the Students Welfare Board, Nirma University in coordination with the constituent institutes of the university conducts the Intra-University Sports Tournament for its faculty, staff, and students. This year, the tournament took place in October 2025. The tournament saw enthusiastic participation from teams representing Institute of Technology, Institute of Management, Institute of Pharmacy, Institute of Science, Institute of Law, Institute of Architecture & Planning, Institute of Commerce, Institute of Design, and the University team, showcasing exceptional talent and sportsmanship. The sports conducted included Basketball, Table Tennis, Kho-Kho, Volleyball, Tug of War, Carrom, and Chess Tournament
Field Visits
Visit to Mundra Port
The Projects and Infrastructure course students of the Institute of Law visited Mundra Port on Oct 9-10, 2024. The visit provided valuable insights into large-scale infrastructure operations and the importance of logistics in India’s trade and energy sectors.
Visit to Auroville and Pondicherry
Students of the Institute of Architecture and Planning, along with two faculty members, visited Auroville and Pondicherry as part of the Related Study Programme (RSP) and Field Studio from Dec 13-27, 2024. Students learnt the sustainable practices in architecture that build habitable buildings with the least environmental impact. They learnt the possibilities of brick masonry with hands-on experience by making arches, vaults, and domes with the assistance of Ar Nivetha Annamalai and Ar Yatharth Laad from Studio Courtyard. Exploration in the city of Pondicherry began with the heritage walk in the white town of the city, assisted by Ar Ashwathambi from INTACH, followed by days of exploration and documentation of the dynamics of the planned city and the influence of French architecture and a blend of Tamil and French architecture.
Visit to Shekhawati region and Jaipur
Students of the Institute of Architecture and Planning, along with two faculty members, visited the Shekhawati region and Jaipur as part of the Related Study Programme and Field Studio from Dec 17-30, 2024. The Shekhawati region in Rajasthan, is renowned for its rich heritage of havelis and vernacular built forms. Students learnt the importance of using locally sourced material and adapting designs to the arid climate, ensuring functionality alongside aesthetic appeal.