Mechanical engineering graduate receives top presidential honor at IIT Roorkee

A 22-year-old mechanical engineering graduate from IIT Roorkee has been awarded the prestigious President of India Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal at the institute's 26th Convocation on September 19, 2026. The recipient, who grew up in Ghaziabad and completed schooling at Delhi Public School on Meerut Road under the CBSE board, was recognized for outstanding social service, character, and conduct outside the classroom rather than academic scores or branch rank. His father, Vineet Jain, manages a business in PVC and agricultural pipes, while his mother, Rachna Jain, is a homemaker. Earlier academic milestones included receiving a silver plate in Class 12 for being a scholar across seven consecutive years and serving as Vice Sports Captain in Class 10. Preparation for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and JEE Advanced in 2022 involved FIITJEE coaching combined with self-study, resulting in a rank of 9756 before choosing Mechanical Engineering at IIT Roorkee through JoSAA counselling due to an interest in mechanics, physics, and applied problem-solving. Campus life spanned active roles in IIT Roorkee Motorsports, the Society of Business, E-Cell, serving as technical secretary of Himalaya Bhawan, and co-convening the campus technology event Srishti, alongside participation in sports, the Esummit, and InterBhawan competitions. Basketball and badminton provided regular breaks, while faculty guidance—particularly from Professor Nitish Arya during the BTech project and placement season—offered practical industry insights. Following graduation, the alumnus joined Meesho as a Senior Associate in a business and product-related role, focusing on making e-commerce more accessible across the country.