EAM S Jaishankar to Inaugurate Shaastra 2026 at IIT Madras

Shaastra 2026: India’s Premier Technical Festival

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will inaugurate Shaastra 2026 , the annual technical festival of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras , on January 2 . The five-day, student-managed event will continue until January 6 and is expected to draw over 80,000 participants from India and abroad, reinforcing Shaastra’s reputation as one of Asia’s largest technology festivals.

Scale, Legacy and Institutional Vision

Now in its 27th edition , Shaastra 2026 will feature a diverse range of competitions, exhibitions, workshops, conferences and technology demonstrations . IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti noted that the festival is part of a broader 15-day outreach window , which also includes the institute’s Open House and Saarang , its annual cultural festival. This integrated engagement aims to deepen public interaction with science, technology and innovation.

Launch of IIT Madras Global Foundation

A major highlight of the inauguration will be the launch of the IIT Madras Global Foundation by the External Affairs Minister. The foundation is envisioned as a central platform to expand IIT Madras’s international footprint , focusing on technology transfer , global academic and industry partnerships, start-up support and facilitation of foreign investment. The institute has proposed global outposts in the US, Germany, Malaysia and Dubai to strengthen global collaboration.

Academic Outreach and Educators Conclave

Shaastra 2026 will host an Educators Conclave under the Vidya Vahak programme . The initiative will train around 150 government school teachers from tribal regions in basic pedagogy, foundational AI–ML tools , and simulation-based teaching , highlighting the festival’s emphasis on inclusive capacity building and education reform.

Innovation and Global Participation

The festival will introduce first-of-its-kind events such as Robo GP , NeuroHack , and E-Contest . With ₹1.68 crore in sponsorships , a 29.4% rise over last year, Shaastra 2026 will also feature talks by global leaders like Jeffrey Ullman , Subra Suresh and Vidita Vaidya , underscoring its growing international stature.

Important Facts for Exams

• Shaastra is the annual technical festival of IIT Madras

• IIT Madras plans global outposts in US, Germany, Malaysia and Dubai

• Vidya Vahak focuses on teacher training and outreach

• Technology Transfer (ToT) is central to IIT–industry collaboration