HIMSHIKHAR 2026, IIT Mandi and NSDC collaboration setting new NEP standard

HIMSHIKHAR 2026 a residential summer programme conducted by the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), IIT Mandi, in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

The programme brings together students from across the country for two intensive months, students are learning directly from IIT Mandi faculty, researchers, and industry mentors, gaining deep exposure to emerging fields such as Software Development with AI, Data Science, AI & ML, Agentic AI Systems and Entrepreneurship & Venture Building. An intensive, application-focused learning experience, complemented by student leadership initiatives, governance activities, cultural engagement, and sports.

Bringing together over 600 students from 8 states and 20 cities, the programme provides participants with an opportunity to experience campus life while engaging in academic, cultural and leadership initiatives.

As part of the programme, four student councils have been constituted across Science & Technology and Entrepreneurship, Sports, Culture and Creative Arts, enabling students to take on leadership responsibilities and contribute to campus life.

To encourage collaborative learning and student-led governance, participants have been grouped into four houses — Aravalli, Nilgiri, Vindhyachal and Shivalik.

Students undergo a structured academic journey through faculty-led sessions, projects, workshops, and assessments, ensuring a rigorous and guided learning experience while also participating in activities including jamming sessions, treasure hunts, Minesweeper challenges and tug of war competitions, helping them interact, collaborate and build connections with peers from diverse backgrounds.

"A meaningful residential programme is not limited to what happens inside a classroom. Through HIMSHIKHAR, participants engage with academic learning while also experiencing collaboration, leadership and community living. The various student-led initiatives, from councils to cultural and sporting activities, are intended to create an environment where students learn from both structured instruction and shared experiences," said Prof. Tushar Jain, Head, Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), IIT Mandi.