15th October, 2025: Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, an institute of eminence, announced the sanctioning of a significant academic initiative under the National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The project, titled “Building and Construction Textiles in Structural Engineering Specialization”, has been approved under Round 2.0 of the scheme for Enabling Academic Institutes in Technical Textiles Education in India. This initiative aims to integrate advanced textile technologies into civil engineering education and research.
The project is coordinated by Prof. Shamsher Bahadur Singh, Ph.D., P.E., C.Eng., F.SEI, F.ASCE, FICE, FCDRI, with Prof. Mukund Lahoti serving as the Co-Coordinator. The total approved funding for the project is INR 2.16085 Crores, and it will be implemented over a duration of three years. The grant will be utilized for the procurement of state-of-the-art equipment and the organization of specialized training programs in the area of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite materials for structural applications. These resources will support hands-on experimentation and enhance the learning experience for students.
Under this initiative, BITS Pilani will offer five new courses, three at the postgraduate level and two at the undergraduate level. The postgraduate courses include Advanced Composite Materials for Structures, Prestressed Concrete Structures, and Advanced Concrete Technology. At the undergraduate level, students will be able to enroll in Analysis and Design of FRP Reinforced Concrete Structures and Design of Prestressed Concrete Structures. These courses will be delivered by distinguished faculty from BITS Pilani and other reputed institutions working in the field of composite materials and structural engineering.
Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani commented “At BITS Pilani, we’ve always believed in pushing the boundaries of education and research. The NTTM 2.0 project is a wonderful opportunity to bring cutting-edge textile technologies into the classroom and the lab. It reflects our commitment to nurturing interdisciplinary innovation and preparing our students to lead in areas that are shaping the future of infrastructure and engineering in India.”
Prof. Shamsher Bahadur Singh further added, “This initiative marks a transformative step in bridging the gap between traditional civil engineering education and emerging technologies in construction textiles. It will empower students and researchers to explore innovative structural solutions using advanced composite materials.”
This project represents a major step forward in aligning academic curricula with emerging technologies in construction and infrastructure, fostering innovation and industry-readiness among students. To learn more about the investigators and their research contributions, visit Prof. Shamsher Bahadur Singh’s webpage and Prof. Mukund Lahoti’s webpage. For further updates, follow BITS Pilani Research & Innovation.
