IIT Bombay receives donation of Rs 315 crore from Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani

NEW DELHI: Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder and chairman of Infosys Ltd and founding chairman of UIDAI has donated Rs 315 crore to his alma mater, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay; one of the largest donations made by alumnus. This contribution marks Nilekani's 50-year association with the institute. The funds will be utilised for developing state-of-the-art infrastructure, promoting research, and fostering a tech startup ecosystem at IIT Bombay.

The agreement was signed in Bengaluru between Nandan Nilekani and IIT Bombay director Subhasis Chaudhuri. “The donation will help in executing IIT Bombay's plans to elevate its status as a premier institution in engineering and technology and contribute to the nation's progress,” the official statement read.

ALSO READ| JEE Advanced 2023: Toppers plan to study at IIT Bombay; computer science top choice

His initial contribution totalling up to Rs 85 crore over the years, was instrumental in constructing new hostels, co-financing the School of Information Technology, and establishing India's first university incubator, thereby significantly boosting the Indian start-up ecosystem, IIT Bombay said.

Expressing his gratitude, Nilekani said, "IIT-Bombay has been a cornerstone in my life, shaping my formative years and laying the foundation for my journey.”

ALSO READ| NIRF Ranking 2023: IIT Madras top engineering college; IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay in 2nd, 3rd ranks

Nilekani’s journey with IIT Bombay

Nandan Nilekani pursued a bachelor’s in electrical engineering at IIT Bombay in 1973. He served as a board member of the IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation from 1999 to 2009 and was a member of the Board of Governors from 2005 to 2011.

He was honoured with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999 and received an Honorary Doctorate in 2019 during the 57th convocation of IIT Bombay.

ALSO READ| JEE Advanced 2023: IIT Bombay has highest cut-off for CSE; closing ranks for BTech courses

“As I celebrate 50 years of my association with this esteemed institution, I am grateful to give forward and contribute to its future”, the Infosys co-founder said.

Terming it as the beginning of a new era for IIT Bombay, Subhasis Chaudhuri said: “The donation will help in accelerating the growth of the institute. IIT Bombay is committed to building research and academic excellence that can make India a leader in scientific discovery and its translation towards solving the pressing challenges facing humankind.”