BITS Pilani has laid a new higher education roadmap. During its 2025 convocation on Sunday, chancellor Kumar Mangalam Birla announced three major initiatives: the launch of a state-of-the-art AI+ campus in Amaravati for Rs 1,000 crore; another Rs 1,219 crore investment to expand and modernise its campuses under Project Vistaar; and the formal unveiling of BITS Pilani Digital, its dedicated edtech platform.
Speaking on the occasion, Birla emphasised BITS Pilani’s legacy of innovation and its forward-looking agenda. “For over six decades, BITS Pilani has nurtured generations of professionals, thinkers, and entrepreneurs who have played an important role in shaping India’s growth story on the global stage,” he said. “Our latest efforts are not just about scale, but also about building an ecosystem that empowers learners, nurtures innovation, and fuels inclusive growth.”
Fifth campus
BITS Pilani has campuses in Pilani (Rajasthan), Goa, Hyderabad, and Dubai, and the AI+ Campus in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, is envisioned as a next-generation innovation hub spread across 35 acres. It will offer undergraduate twinning programmes, cotutelle doctoral degrees with top global institutions, and master’s programmes in AI/ML, innovation, and strategy. Designed for agility and impact, the campus will feature an experiential & adaptive curriculum, an entrepreneurship-first approach, and flexible learning paths. A smart campus vision will integrate IoT systems, AI-powered services, immersive learning tools, and hybrid delivery infrastructure.
Its development will occur in two phases: Phase 1 will support 3,000 students, focusing on core academics and student life; and Phase 2 will scale capacity to 7,000 students, adding advanced research centres, global collaboration zones, and dedicated entrepreneurship hubs, built using sustainable, modular infrastructure for scalability and efficiency.
Rs 1,219 crore
Under Project Vistaar, BITS Pilani has committed Rs 1,219 crore, one of the largest capital investments in its history, to expand and upgrade infrastructure across its Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad campuses. This initiative will enhance long-term research capabilities, improve student experience, and foster global partnerships. It includes Rs 60 crore for upgrading undergraduate laboratories to world-class standards. Student intake across campuses is projected to increase from 18,700 to 26,000 by academic year 2030-31. This physical expansion is coupled with strategic development of new interdisciplinary programmes aligned with future industry and global trends.
Digital foray
The launch of BITS Pilani Digital, the institute’s own edtech platform, brings its hallmark of academic excellence into the digital realm. The institute said that in response to the National Education Policy’s push for accessible and lifelong learning, this platform will offer flexible, industry-aligned programmes co-created with professionals. Over the next five years, BITS Pilani Digital aims to launch 32 programmes (including 11 degrees and 21 certificates) and reach over 100,000 learners – who can engage in real-world projects, gain career support, and have the option of campus immersions to build connections within the BITS community and industry.
Prof V Ramgopal Rao, vice-chancellor, BITS Pilani, said that the focus at BITS Pilani has been to stay ahead of the curve, whether in academic innovation, global research collaboration, or student experience. “With these new initiatives, we are reaffirming our vision to create an institution that is responsive to the world’s changing needs, deeply connected to industry, and driven by a spirit of purpose and excellence. These efforts will not only scale the impact of BITS Pilani but also set new standards in how higher education can serve society at large,” he said.
