The first-ever PanIIT Rising Rajasthan Summit was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 1 November 2025. It was organized by PanIIT Alumni India-the official network of alumni of all 23 Indian Institutes of Technology-in association with the Government of Rajasthan. The event saw the participation of senior officials, IIT alumni, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and academics with the aim of consolidating the state’s relationship with the larger IIT fraternity.
Rajasthan’s Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant inaugurated the summit. According to officials, the event aimed to bring together experienced IIT graduates, technology professionals and investors with state departments so that the state may benefit from fresh ideas, skilled talent and new partnerships.
A Meeting Point for Experience and Local Needs#
The summit focused on how Rajasthan can use the expertise of IIT alumni to improve development in areas such as education, health, employment and public services. While the IIT system is known for its achievements in engineering and technology, many alumni also work in management, public policy, entrepreneurship and social sectors. Their participation gave the summit a broad character.
The discussions focused on how Rajasthan can scale up skill training for youth, improve digital public services, foster startups, and strengthen state institutions. Various government departments shared their work in progress in agriculture, renewable energy, tourism, urban planning, and more, inviting alumni groups to collaborate on these fronts.
Officials pointed out that Rajasthan has been expanding its digital systems for service delivery. Programmes related to public health insurance, pension transfers and citizen services already use digital platforms. The state hopes that collaboration with IIT alumni can help make these systems more efficient and more accessible.
A Push for Regional and Rural Development#
A large component of the discussion dealt with Rajasthan’s rural and semi-urban areas. Most participants responded to the need for practical solutions in water management, agriculture, energy use, and public health. Rajasthan faces recurring crises like acute shortage of water, drought risk, and unevenness of development in districts. The summit invited the alumni groups to come up with project plans that respond to these issues.
Examples covered better irrigation planning, improved crop-advisory systems for farmers, simple tools that can help manage water supply in villages, and training programs for rural youth. Panels also spoke about how to support small entrepreneurs in smaller cities and towns, helping them connect with larger markets and investors.
It was not only a question of introducing new technology, but also of strengthening local capacity. As the participants underlined, development works best when local communities and state officials are involved from the very beginning. The officials of Rajasthan emphasised that the state is looking for realistic, scalable projects rather than short-term experiments.
Enhancing the State’s Startup Ecosystem#
The summit also brought into focus the fast-growing startup ecosystem in Rajasthan. While Jaipur, Udaipur, and Kota have witnessed a spurt in the number of young companies over the last few years, many of them still suffer from deficiencies on the funding, mentoring, and network fronts. The presence of IIT alumni working in large Indian and international companies also brought opportunities to young entrepreneurs to pitch ideas and build connections.
Why the Summit Matters#
The PanIIT Rising Rajasthan Summit is important because it signals Rajasthan’s intent to position itself as a state that embraces collaboration and innovation. By inviting IIT alumni, the state is tapping into an influential network for business, research, governance, and social development.
The summit provided the IIT community with an opportunity to collaborate with a major Indian state that, although having focused development priorities, still presents a number of key regional challenges. For Rajasthan, it opens up the possibility for new partnerships and fresh ideas to enhance public services and increase opportunities for young people.
Looking Ahead PanIIT Alumni India and the state government have also indicated that follow-up working groups will be formed to take forward ideas discussed at the summit. Future meetings are expected to focus on the identification of pilot projects, expanding skill centres in smaller towns and strengthening university-industry collaboration. This summit marks the beginning of a long-term partnership. According to both sides, the goal is simple: to make Rajasthan better prepared for the future while ensuring that development reaches every region and every community.
Clear Cut Startups Desk
New Delhi, UPDATED: Nov 14, 2025 04:25 IST
Written By: Janmojaya Barik
