Ropar, January 6, 2026 – The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has taken significant steps to bolster student well-being and expand opportunities for underprivileged students by inaugurating the Dr. Ishan Avdhoot Shivanand Center for Yogic Sciences and Holistic Development and announcing the Dr. Ishan Shivanand Scholarship for Gifted Youth. The initiatives aim to address the increasing need for mental and physical health support within academic settings and ensure that financial constraints do not hinder deserving students from achieving their full potential.
The Dr. Ishan Avdhoot Shivanand Center for Yogic Sciences and Holistic Development is envisioned as a sanctuary for the IIT Ropar community to cultivate balance, resilience, and inner strength. The center will offer a variety of programs and activities, including yoga, meditation, mindfulness sessions, aerobics, gymnastics, and guided wellness activities. The facility will feature a multipurpose hall with specialized flooring to support these activities. It will serve as a dedicated space for resilience-building, stress management programs, faculty well-being activities, peer-support initiatives, and collaborative research on holistic health interventions. The center will also work with existing counseling services and academic support systems to provide an integrated well-being framework.
The foundation stone laying ceremony was led by IIT Ropar Director Rajeev Ahuja, in the presence of Dr. Ishan Shivanand, Dr. Atharva Poundarik, and Dr. Bindukumar Kansupada. Dr. Shivanand emphasized the role of scientifically validated yogic practices in helping students manage stress, anxiety, and burnout. He expressed his hope that the center would serve as a model for other educational institutions. The center's activities will include daily meditation and yoga sessions, stress management workshops, faculty wellness programs, awareness initiatives, and community participation events. The center will integrate yogic practices with modern scientific approaches.
In conjunction with the launch of the Yogic Sciences Center, IIT Ropar has announced the Dr. Ishan Shivanand Scholarship for Gifted Youth. This program will provide 10 fully funded scholarships to meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds. Five scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate students, and five will be awarded to postgraduate students. The scholarship will cover full tuition fees, accommodation, living expenses, and access to programs at the wellness center.
Director Rajeev Ahuja stated that the scholarship program reflects IIT Ropar's commitment to ensuring that financial barriers do not limit opportunity, noting that "talent is universal, but opportunity is not". The initiative aims to position student well-being alongside academic excellence and could serve as a national model for higher education institutions seeking integrated approaches to learning and mental health support. The scholarship program and the Yogic Sciences Center underscore IIT Ropar's commitment to the holistic development of its students and faculty.
