VARANASI, Nov. 1 -- The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-BHU) awarded 2,048 degrees at its 15th convocation held at Swatantrata Bhawan, Banaras Hindu University, on Saturday. Of the total degrees, 1,106 were BTech, 385 Integrated Dual Degrees, 322 MTech/MPharm, 182 PhD, 39 MSc and 14 BArch degrees. Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla was the chief guest at the convocation. Dr Kota Harinarayana, chairman, Board of Governors, IIT (BHU), presided over the ceremony, while Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, BHU vice chancellor and vice-chairman, Board of Governors, attended as the guest of honour. Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, member, Board of Governors, was also present at the event. IIT-BHU director Prof Amit Patra highlighted the institute's major achievements in academics, research, technological advancement and institutional development. Prof Devendra Singh, dean of academic affairs, presented the graduating students from various academic programmes for the award of degrees. The degrees and medals were subsequently conferred by the chief guest. On the occasion, the IIT-BHU director Prof Amit Patra also conferred honorary Doctor of Science degree on chief guest Kumar Mangalam Birla. In his address, the chief guest congratulated the graduating students and shared his thoughts on their future aspirations, professional accomplishments and potential role in nation-building. Moreover, the IIT-BHU also awarded a total of 62 medals and awards. These included gold and silver medals, institute and departmental medals, memorial and endowment awards, cash prizes and other distinctions. Harjas Kaur of the department of electronics engineering was awarded the prestigious President's Gold Medal for her outstanding academic performance. The Director's Gold Medals were conferred on two meritorious students Lakhadive Mehul Kumar Rajkumar of civil engineering and Prateek Tripathi of computer science and engineering. Members of the Board of Governors and Senate, faculty members, institute officials and staff, graduating students, their parents and several other distinguished guests attended the ceremony. In his presidential address, Dr Kota Harinarayana, chairman of the IIT-BHU Board of Governors, congratulated the graduating students. He also acknowledged the national and international contributions made by the institute's alumni as well as the visionary foresight of its founders....