IIT Mandi to host four-day global conference on consciousness studies

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi is set to host the third edition of the International Mind, Brain and Consciousness Conference (MBCC) 2026 from June 3 to 6 at its Kamand campus in Himachal Pradesh.

Organised by the Indian knowledge system and mental health applications (IKSMHA) centre, the conference will focus on understanding consciousness, cognition and wellbeing through discussions that draw from both modern scientific research and Indian knowledge systems (IKS).

According to the organisers, the four-day event has already attracted more than 400 participants from India and overseas. The programme includes over 250 technical presentations, 18 keynote lectures, eight invited talks, three panel discussions, workshops and competitions covering fields such as neuroscience, cognitive science, yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, artificial intelligence, mental health and Sanskrit studies.

IIT Mandi to feature performances

Apart from academic discussions, the conference will also include cultural programmes featuring two renowned Indian artists.

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Padma Subrahmanyam, Bharatanatyam dancer and scholar, will attend the inaugural session as chief guest and present a special dance performance on June 3. The following day, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty is scheduled to deliver a keynote address and perform a Hindustani classical music concert.

The inclusion of cultural events reflects the conference's broader effort to connect knowledge, traditions, arts and scientific inquiry.

IIT Mandi hosts global experts

Several international researchers working in consciousness studies and related disciplines are expected to participate in the conference. These include Stuart Hameroff from the United States, Giorgio Ascoli, Dimitris A. Pinotsis from the United Kingdom, Pieter-Jan Maes from Belgium, Josefa Becerra Gonzalez from Mexico and Ithamar Theodor from Israel.

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Among the Indian speakers are BK Shivani, Ganti S. Murthy, Sisir Roy, Anirban Bandyopadhyay, Shekhar P. Seshadri, Nachiketa Tiwari, Sudhir K. Sopory and Sushrut Jadhav.

The conference is being organised under the patronage of the Indian knowledge systems division of the Ministry of Education. IIT Mandi Director Laxmidhar Behera, INSA President Shekhar Mande, Sisir Roy and Anirban Bandyopadhyay are serving as general chairs.

IIT Mandi promotes consciousness dialogue

Speaking about the conference, Laxmidhar Behera said, “The integration of mind, brain, and consciousness, with consciousness viewed as a fundamental reality as proposed in Indian Knowledge Systems, may hold the key to a deeper understanding of human wellbeing and offer new directions for addressing mental health challenges and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia.

He added, “Through MBCC 2026, we seek to establish a global dialogue that bridges ancient wisdom and modern science to advance humanity's understanding of consciousness and its role in health and wellbeing."

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Set in the Uhl River Valley of Himachal Pradesh, the IIT Mandi campus will host researchers, students, practitioners and scholars for discussions on the future of consciousness studies and their relevance to health, wellbeing and human development.