IIT Kanpur and Kotak Mahindra Bank have joined forces to establish India’s first fully integrated School of Sustainability on the IIT Kanpur campus. The foundation stone for the school has now been laid, marking a significant step toward making the vision a reality.

This isn’t just a new academic department—it’s a first-of-its-kind initiative in India that signals a future where ecological stewardship, economic growth, and social responsibility go hand-in-hand.

The Kotak School of Sustainability is envisioned as India’s first fully integrated academic institution dedicated solely to the interdisciplinary field of sustainability. It will focus on equipping students and researchers with the tools, knowledge, and leadership skills needed to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental and climate-related challenges.

The foundation stone was laid in the presence of top dignitaries, IIT Kanpur faculty, Kotak Mahindra Bank representatives, and government officials. The event marked the beginning of a collaborative effort to place India at the forefront of sustainable innovation.

The Kotak School of Sustainability will offer both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs, short-term certifications, and research fellowships. It will also house multiple Centres of Excellence focused on region-specific and global sustainability challenges. The curriculum will be designed to blend theoretical frameworks with real-world problem solving, making students job-ready, policy-aware, and socially conscious.

As India’s youth step into a world challenged by rising temperatures, shrinking resources, and shifting socio-economic landscapes, institutions like this will play a vital role in guiding the way forward.