At the outset, I am delighted to convey my best regards and wishes to all Fellows, Young Associates, awardees and supporters of Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) for a Happy New Year 2026. As we come to the close of the year 2025, it is my pleasant duty to apprise that this is the first year wherein the Academy has become financially independent and completely autonomous in its operations, while our attaining eternity state of corpus is still a work in progress. It is noteworthy to express that with the solidarity and kind contributions of  the esteemed Fellows and brilliant Young Associates, all the activities of the Academy were held in the year 2025, with full vigour and commitment with widespread participation (as per details given in Appendix-A).

As you all are aware, DST had communicated to the Academy in May 2022 that the Government support would be withdrawn and stopped in end March 2025. On receipt of this intimation, Prof Indranil Manna, the then President, INAE and the Governing Council decided that in order to sustain as an Academy, there was a need to build an adequate Corpus Fund to the tune of Rs 100 Crores; of which the net of the interest and taxes would generate funds at hand each year, to meet operational costs. With the above as the aim, sincere work began since end 2023 towards a drive to seek donations from major corporates and other 5-6 streams of revenue including creation of Individual, Institutional and Corporate Memberships, by which the Academy would gain financial freedom. INAE leadership since that time have put in enormous and very sincere efforts and today the Academy has achieved about two-thirds of the corpus target. I am pleased to once again place on record the stellar contributions of former Presidents of INAE; the Governing Council along with the esteemed Fellows of INAE supported by a lean team at INAE Headquarters for achieving many milestones in this enormous task of ensuring that the Academy flourishes and continues to make a mark in the national and international engineering domains. These efforts have indeed reached fruition with the Academy having become fully functionally, operationally and financially autonomous and independent w.e.f. April 1, 2025.

In the year 2025, several landmark new initiatives have been taken such as launch of the Centre for Engineering Education Excellence (CEEE) Program with CSR fund support from Infosys Foundation; introduction of the TechFrontier e-magazine and conduct of the maiden Technology Conclave with active participation of Individual Members of INAE. INAE, as the only engineering Academy of India, shall further endeavour to enhance its contributions in encouraging inventions & innovation, promoting engineering education and translational research in engineering, facilitating Academia-Industry interaction and undertaking new initiatives with greater vigour, commitment and enthusiasm to serve India on her journey to be truly Atmanirbhar and a Viksit Bharat@2047. I am pleased to inform that apart from the successful conduct of the INAE flagship programs – Engineers Conclave, National Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, Youth Conclave and Annual Convention, this year, as per decisions taken by the Governing Council, with support from the former Presidents of INAE, the engineering excellence awards that were kept in abeyance from 2022, were reinstated with INAE’s internal resources.

I once again thank the esteemed Governing Council, former Presidents and Office Bearers of INAE, distinguished Fellows and Foreign Fellows, Young Associates, Members, awardees and our partners from Industry, Institutions and well-wishers for their deep and continued support, guidance and contributions in sparing their valuable time and efforts in increasing the outreach and visibility of the Academy. It is with pleasure that I seek your renewed and valuable support and involvement in the activities, schemes, events, programs and initiatives being held under the aegis of INAE in the year 2026 and the future as well (some major activities are listed in the Appendix-B).

My best wishes once again that the New Year 2026 brings in good cheer and outstanding success in your professional pursuits. I pray for good health and well-being for you and your families and convey my best wishes that the year 2026 is the best ever in terms of blessings and accomplishments in all facets and aspects of life.

With warm regards,

J.D. Patil