The Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MFSDS&AI) at IIT Guwahati has marked a major milestone with the graduation of its first-ever B.Tech in Data Science and AI cohort (2021–2025).
Launched in 2021 in partnership with the Mehta Family Foundation (MFF), the School was one of the first in the IIT system to introduce a dedicated undergraduate program in Data Science and AI well before the current global surge in artificial intelligence. Four years later, its graduates are entering an economy where AI skills are among the most sought-after worldwide.
According to IIT Guwahati’s official placement report, 91 percent of students in the first graduating batch secured offers. Out of 22 students, 20 were placed with leading recruiters, while two chose not to continue in the recruitment process. Recruiters included Warner Bros Discovery, Google, Microsoft, and more. One student will also pursue higher studies at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA.
Reflecting on the milestone, Professor Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati, said: “By introducing a B.Tech in Data Science and AI in 2021, we were ahead of the curve. The successful placement of our very first batch validates both the demand for these skills and the quality of the program we have built. Our graduates are entering this dynamic landscape equipped to make contributions of global significance.”
For Rahul Mehta, Founder of the Mehta Family Foundation, the outcome demonstrates the vision behind establishing the School: “This milestone marks a proud moment for all of us at MFF. The success of the inaugural graduating class is a testament to the dedication of IIT Guwahati’s faculty and the talent of its students. Our partnership to establish the School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence was built on a shared vision to empower the next generation of leaders in this transformative field. Seeing that vision come alive is truly gratifying.”
The students’ academic journey was built on a rigorous foundation in science and mathematics, enriched by interdisciplinary courses from computer science, engineering, and humanities, and further strengthened through specialized coursework in data science, AI, and their applications. They have gained practical exposure through summer internships, including one student taking an international assignment in Japan. The four-year curriculum included a one-year project component where students worked on cutting-edge problems such as deepfake detection, large language model automation, conversational AI, multimodal healthcare, federated learning, and robotics. Some of these works are either published or are in review for publication in peer-reviewed conferences and journals. Beyond placements, they have also excelled in Inter-IIT Tech Meets and national-level hackathons such as Kaggle Masters, JPMC Quant Challenge, Nobias Finance Investment Challenge, Amazon ML, Adobe Gensolve, and Citadel Terminal. Several students have also taken on leadership and other key roles across various student clubs at IIT Guwahati.
As Professor Ratnajit Bhattacharjee, Head of the School, explained: “Our pride lies in the diversity of outcomes. Some graduates are stepping into leadership-track roles in industry, while others are moving into advanced research. That flexibility shows the strength of the program in preparing adaptable, world-class problem solvers.”
This achievement is supported by a dedicated faculty pool of over 25 members, along with international advisors from institutions such as MIT, Purdue, UCSD, and the University of Oklahoma. Faculty research spans diverse areas including healthcare AI, sustainable finance, neuro-inspired computing, and audio, vision, text, and multimodal AI, with funding from agencies such as DST, DRDO, ISRO, ANRF, and the Indo-Dutch Merian Fund.
The School also offers M.Tech, Ph.D., and Online B.Sc. (Hons.) programs, drawing students from across India and abroad. With this first graduating batch, IIT Guwahati and the Mehta Family Foundation are advancing their vision of a global hub for AI education and research, positioned not as a follower of trends but as a pioneer.
About the Mehta Family Foundation
The Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation (MFF) is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing India’s higher education through long-term partnerships with leading public institutions. It has established eight academic schools and centres across six IITs - Madras, Guwahati, Roorkee, Kanpur, Palakkad, and Indore, creating capacity for around 3,000 students and projected to graduate more than 10,000 in the next decade. MFF has supported the development of 620,000 sq. ft. of infrastructure, enabling research, innovation, and interdisciplinary learning at scale.
About IIT Guwahati
Established in 1994 by the Government of India, the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati is one of the country’s leading national institutions for higher education in engineering, science, and interdisciplinary research. Located on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, IIT Guwahati is known for its cutting-edge research, global academic collaborations, and innovation-driven environment. With 11 academic departments, 7 interdisciplinary centres, and extensive industry partnerships, the institute is a leader in technological translation and educational innovation. As the premier research university in Northeast India, IIT Guwahati houses the region’s first Research Park and consistently ranks among India’s top universities in national and international indices. The institute focuses on sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and impactful community engagement, aligning its academic vision with national priorities and global standards.
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