The IIT-Bhubaneswar will soon have a state-of-the-art Students Activity Centre (SAC) and play courts for its students to promote sports and give boost to Centre's 'Fit India' campaign. The activity centre and play courts will be inaugurated by Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank virtually on the occasion of Institute's ninth Convocation on December 4.

The SAC and the play courts are a major part of the grand 42 acre sports complex the institute is creating under phase-II infrastructure with support of the Ministry of Education. The modern SAC building will be 5,100 square metre indoor facility comprising badminton courts, basketball court, meditation centre, Gymnasia, squash court and halls for socio-cultural and technical counselling. Similarly, the play courts spread over 7.5 acres land will have synthetic courts for basketball, volleyball and tennis. Apart from these sports facilities the Union Minister will inaugurate the new building of the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Management.

Keeping in view the COVID-19 pandemic the institute this year has decided organise the Convocation in hybrid mode where students can take part online or in physical mode, said IIT Bhubaneswar director Prof RV Raja Kumar. Union Minister of State for Education Rajendra Prasad Singh and IIT Bhubaneswar Board of Governors chairman Rajendra Prasad Singh will also join the programme guests. The institute will confer degrees to 446 students including 35 Ph D, 141 MTech, 70 MSc and 200 BTech this year.