IIT Mandi announces its first residential summer programme with 5 specialisations

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi announces its first two-month summer residential programme, HIMSHIKHAR 2026. Candidates can apply on the official website at cce.iitmandi.ac.in/himshikhar-2026. To apply, applicants need to have passed Class 12 or any equivalent.

Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of an entrance test to determine their reasoning and analytical skills; it will be followed by a counselling round. The applicants can select their favourite track during counselling. After passing the necessary formalities such as payment of fees within the stipulated time, final admission will be ensured.

The programme will also provide 250 seats in the five tracks which will make the total number of seats 1,250. The residential programme will commence with reporting on May 16, 2026 and classes are expected to commence on May 18. The participants will remain within the university premises and be involved in an interactive learning process.

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IIT Mandi: Industry-oriented practical skills

With HIMSHIKHAR 2026, IIT Mandi is seeking to provide learners with skills that are closely related to the needs of the industry today. The programme has also been tailored to integrate classrooms with practical knowledge so that the participants are able to address real world issues.

The course will have 190 hours of interaction, whereby the sessions will be conducted by faculty and PhD scholars and industry practitioners. There are five specialised areas offered to the students, which are:

• Software development with AI

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning

• Agentic AI systems

• Data science

• Entrepreneurship and venture building

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Talking about the initiative, Tushar Jain, head of the centre for continuing education (CCE) at IIT Mandi stated, “HIMSHIKHAR 2026 programme combines academic rigor, national skilling infrastructure, and outcome-driven training for learners. Every module emphasises building, problem-solving, and working with real tools, guided by practitioners, and faculty who understand industry demands.”