IIT Ropar chief Rajeev Ahuja wins top science medal

Rajeev Ahuja, the director of the Indian Institute of Technology at Ropar, has won the National Systems Gold Medal from the Systems Society of India for his work in Systems Science and Engineering.

The Award Ceremony

The award was given to Ahuja at the Dayalbagh Educational Institute in Agra during the forty-ninth National Systems Conference held from September twenty-first to twenty-third. The event focused on the theme of integrated intelligent systems for people and the planet.

Past Winners

This gold medal honours prominent people who make big contributions to systems science. Past winners of the award include former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who received it in 1997, and former ISRO chairman K Sivan, who got it in 2018.

Reactions and Past Work

Ahuja said he felt humbled by the award and dedicated it to the entire IIT Ropar community, including students, teachers, researchers, and staff. This follows another award he received in June, when Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi gave him the Chief of Army Staff Commendation for his work in defence research.

Context

IIT Ropar has been working closely with the Indian Army on technology projects like autonomous armoured vehicles and AI tools to help soldiers in tough places. Awards like this highlight how academic institutions in India are increasingly partnering with national defence and scientific bodies to drive practical technological progress.