Chandigarh: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has awarded Master of Technology (M.Tech) degrees in Defence Technology to 59 officers of the Indian Army’s Armoured Corps Centre & School (ACC&S), marking the graduation of the programme’s first cohort.
The degrees were conferred at ACC&S in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, by IIT Ropar Director Rajeev Ahuja. Major General Vikram Varma, Commandant of ACC&S, and Sarang Gumfekar, Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research at IIT Ropar, were also present.
The programme marks the first time an IIT has offered an advanced postgraduate degree specifically designed for military applications, bringing academic training closer to the technological requirements of the armed forces.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajeev Ahuja said, “Today, classroom knowledge meets the battlefield. These officers will help India build its own defence technologies.”
Developed jointly by IIT Ropar and ACC&S, the M.Tech programme focuses on applied learning, hands-on research and problem-solving aligned with the operational and technological needs of the Indian Army.
Officers completing the programme are expected to contribute to technology modernisation across armoured formations and support indigenisation in defence manufacturing. The initiative also establishes a framework for joint research and development in areas such as armoured vehicle technologies, advanced armaments and new materials.
The collaboration aligns with India’s broader push for self-reliance in defence and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, with an emphasis on developing indigenous capabilities and strengthening the technological foundation of the armed forces.
BI Bureau
