Studies at Thapar helped me in tackling Covid efficiently in Mumbai –BMC Commissioner Chahal

Studies at Thapar helped me in tackling Covid efficiently in Mumbai –BMC Commissioner Chahal

Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in

The 35^th Convocation of Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET), Patiala, was held today in which  TIET conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) on its alumnus, Iqbal Singh Chahal,IAS the present municipal commissioner of Mumbai.The strategy of BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, who came into the limelight after overcoming the corona in Mumbai with a population of about 2 crores, is being praised across the country.

Chahal’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic, as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner, has received acclaim from all quarters. Chahal did his BTech (electronics and communications engineering) from the Thapar institute in 1987, before joining the IAS in 1989. Chahal planned well for the second wave of Covid-19, ensuring that earlier this year, when most states in India battled oxygen shortage, Mumbai remained well-equipped. BMC is India’s richest civic body . Chahal also ensured that the Covid-19 situation in Dharavi, the biggest slum of India, remained under control.

Studies at Thapar helped me in tackling Covid efficiently in Mumbai –Chahal said while sharing his experience with the students. “As an engineer i executed my plans accordingly, had adopted the micro management system in its early stages, understand the Corona trends of many countries and experiment with many campaigns to handle the situation” added Chahal

At this Convocation, a total of 2319 degrees are being awarded: 80 Ph.D., 179 M.E./M.Tech., 103 M.Sc., 65 M.C.A., 26 M.A., 190 M.B.A, 35 Integrated B.E./M.B.A and 1672 B.E./B.Tech.  These degrees cover a wide range of disciplines and specializations offered by the seven engineering departments, and five schools.  Degrees will be distributed in 4 spells from Nov 8-11, 2021 keeping in view of the COVID protocols.

During this Convocation, a total of 40 students have received medals/awards for their outstanding and meritorious academic, scholastic and all-round performance. Besides this, meritorious students from each program were awarded medals for securing first position in their respective branches for various programmes during the Annual Academic Prize Distribution Function.

• Yadwinder Kaur, topped the list of successful candidates in all disciplines of final year B. E. examination with a CGPA of 00/A+, will receive the Presidents’ Medal for the academic year 2020-2021.
• The S. Ranbir Singh Gold Medal for the All Round Best Student for the year 2020-2021 has been awarded to Ruchir Sharma.
• This year’s Prof. V. Rajaraman Computer Science & Engineering Award has been given to Sahil Ahuja, for securing highest CGPA of 00 in B.E. Computer Science and Engineering.
• The S. Ram S. Sidhu Memorial Medal for the year 2020-21has been awarded to Yadwinder Kaur.

As said “studies at Thapar helped me in tackling Covid efficiently in Mumbai –Chahal ,Thapar Institute also took this opportunity to honour its distinguished alum Iqbal Singh Chahal, IAS batch of 1989, and an Electronics Engineering graduate of Thapar Institute, for his exceptional work as Municipal Commissioner of Greater Mumbai in leading the fight against the 2nd wave of the pandemic for Mumbai”. Chahal restructured the entire Covid response mechanism in Mumbai, successfully managing the massive requirements of critical supplies in the mega city. His decisive approach saved Mumbai from the large-scale calamities due to Covid. In recognition of his commitment to social causes and exemplary contributions in the field, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology has awarded him the Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa).

Professor Prakash Gopalan, Director, Thapar Institute congratulated all the degree recipients and presented the Institute’s annual report. He applauded the faculty and staff for their unstinted efforts towards ensuring that student-focussed deliveries were least affected in a year that was seriously impacted by the 2^nd wave of the Covid pandemic. In fact, the institution moved up in the prestigious National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2021 in all key categories, now ranking 23^rd in the Engineering category and 26^th in the University category.

• Ranked in “501-600” bracket worldwide among 1662 institutions and ‘5th’ amongst 71 institution ranked within India in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.
• Ranked in “1001-1200” bracket worldwide in QS World University Rankings 2022.

Referring to the institution’s intense focus on research, Dr. Gopalan shared some key statistics highlighting faculty and students work in this area. Thapar Institute students have 1116 published research papers in Scopus Journals in 2021, and over 105 sponsored research projects are in progress. Citations too have grown with over 20510 citations last year.

Placements too have been exceptionally good this year, with more than 400 recruiters seeking out Thapar graduates. The Maximum CTC offered for the year 2020-21 is Rs. 43.31 lakhs p.a. offered to 2 students from Microsoft. Average CTC offered to BE/B.Tech., ME/M.Tech, being Rs. 9.27, 8.78 lakhs p.a. respectively.

Chairman, Central Board of Governors, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Rajeev Vederah expressed his satisfaction with these outcomes stating that this year demonstrated how an institution that is driven to excellence can overcome the most difficult environment and yet deliver better student outcomes. Wishing the best of luck to outgoing students, he encouraged them to seize the opportunities being offered by the resurgent economy in India to achieve their professional goals and bring laurels to their alma mater.

November 8,2021