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Bharat Mandapam hosted the forty-third convocation ceremony for the school of Planning and Architecture (SPA) New Delhi on 'Sunday'. In front of the graduating class, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, union minister of state for education and union minster of state (independent charge) of ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship defined the important role of both planners and architects in India’s developmental progress.

While speaking to the students indicating that they should always think ahead, Shri Chaudhary said, "AI will replace only very narrow thinking it will not replace architects." He urged students to contribute to the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by integrating creativity, ethics and technological advancement.

This year, 373 students received their degrees from SPA New Delhi, which included 119 undergraduates, 223 postgraduates and 31 PhD scholars. In addition to this, 20 students were awarded gold medals for their exceptional academic achievements, which Prof. Virendra Kumar Paul, Director of SPA New Delhi, stated in a press release.

Prof. Ar. Habib Khan, Chairperson, presided over the convocation ceremony. Distinguished guests at the ceremony included Shri Anand Kumar (Retired IAS) Chairman, RERA and Prof. Avinash Chandra Pandey, Director of the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC). A number of prominent figures from academia, Government and Industry were present at the event.

The convocation ceremony represents an important milestone for students graduating this year as they leave to join in the development of their country through architecture, planning and design.

IIT Roorkee has published the exam schedule and syllabus for the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) 2026 on June 4, 2026. The AAT 2026 exam date will be accessible to students who have qualified in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2026, and it is going to be held on August 5, 2026. The purpose of this test is for students to apply for their desired Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) programme at either IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur or IIT BHU; The BArch are three years in duration. AAT is a pen and paper test that lasts for three hours. The exam is conducted only in English. The tentative commencement of the Joint Seat Allocation (JoSAA) 2026 for AAT will be from June 2, 2026. The AAT 2026 results will be declared on June 7, 2026, by 5 pm.

Syllabus for AAT 2026

Freehand drawing

A simple drawing representing the total object in its correct shape and proportion, surface texture, relative location and details of its component parts in the suitable scale would form the main part of this.

Common domestic or day to, day life usable objects like furniture, equipment, etc., from memory.

Geometrical drawing

Geometrical drawing exercises of different shapes using lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, circles, etc. Understanding plan (top view) and elevation (front or side views) of simple solid objects such as prisms, cones, cylinders, cubes, splayed surface holders, etc.

Three, dimensional perception

The understanding and appreciation of the three, dimensional forms with building elements, colour, volume and orientation. Visualization through structuring objects in memory.

Imagination and aesthetic sensitivity

Composition exercise with given elements. Context mapping. Creativity check through innovative uncommon test with familiar objects. Sense of colour grouping or application.

Architectural awareness

General interest and awareness of famous architectural creations, both national and international, places and personalities (architects, designers, etc.) in the related domain.

Anant National University has announced the launch of ADEPT (Anant Design Entrance and Proficiency Test) 2026 for admission to its flagship undergraduate programmes in design. The test will be held on 4 January 2026 and will be conducted in 10 languages, making it the first multilingual design entrance examination in India. This initiative by Anant reflects its resolve towards inclusiveness and aspirants of design disciplines from the entire country will be equally accessible to this opportunity.

Imaginative, critical, and creative thinking along with problem, solving abilities form the bedrock of the fast, changing innovation scenario in India and the university, through its design programmes, aims at students becoming these very skills, sets.The educational philosophy of the university is centered around creating such design students who can come up with solutions that not only address local issues but are also compatible with global trends, thus reflecting India's move from Make in India to Design for India.

Anant National University spokesperson said, "This entrance test is not only a gateway for admission it is the very first step of a journey where students learn to design responsibly, creatively and sustainably." He further added, "By offering ADEPT in 10 different languages, we are establishing a level playing field for talented aspirants from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds to take up top notch design education."

Last year, ADEPT had received applications from students spanning 304 cities, which is a proof of the programme's deepening footprint all over the country. In 2026, the university has simplified the process by combining the previous two, step models into a single exam. This allows the candidates to present their entire creative talent in one uninterrupted session. The school eligibility criteria specify that the candidate must have completed Class 12 in 2026 or any year prior to that. Moreover, the university sets the requirement for the candidate to achieve a minimum of 50% marks in any stream. The deadline for submitting the application is 1 January 2026.

Anant National University is well known for its multidisciplinary approach that mixes liberal arts, emerging technologies, and community driven learning under the DesignX pedagogy.

The students in these programs, design, architecture, climate change, and visual arts, become proficient to the change of the world as solutionaries, innovators who can creatively and empathetically solve global challenges.The university has been acknowledged as a Centre of Excellence by the Government of Gujarat and has been given the highest ratings in GSIRF 2023, 24. Anant keeps on setting the standards in design education.

By ADEPT 2026, Anant National University is not only the means for the aspirants to access top design education but also the tool to extend its commitment to the creation of Indias next generation of design leaders capable of making a significant impact both nationally and globally.

In a world that is getting more dynamic by the day, with the challenge of businesses emerging to be far more complex than ever and in an environment that is changing rapidly in terms of industries never experiencing such transformation earlier, increasingly being looked for in an Indian context not just engineers and/or managers but problem-solvers and professionals who comprehend an environment in terms of an overall perspective or design experts. The concept of strategic designing does not appear to remain limited by ornament and visual terms but diversified streams. Strategic designing relates essentially to solutions for large-scale and complicated problems.

The emphasis on design is developing internationally from an auxiliary service to the forerunner of innovation in businesses. Various organizations across industries are looking for design leaders who understand complexity and can scale their solutions. The requirement is also increasing in various industries like energy, fins-tech, health care, and mobility for professionals who understand the interface of user needs, technology, and businesses. The role of strategic designers is gradually becoming an interface in a team for innovation from idea to launch service or product.

The Indian case, too, will see opportunities for strategic design competencies cropping up fast and in a big way. Currently, for instance, organizations are concentrating more on recruiting design talent that has familiarity with business metrics, digital ecosystems, and strategic value addition. Designers aren't considered simply as visualization specialists but as strategic innovation partners with the ability to navigate complex paths while building business outcomes.

Due to this increasing demand, the education area in design also has to face a transformation in this country. Although design schools have already been changing their learning pattern, it is still an area which requires some change in this context. These are the courses which need an introduction in design education in order to teach their students the skills which would be applied in strategic designing.

• Entrepreneurship: Students should be guided not just to design products for corporations, but also in becoming entrepreneurs where they could use these products to solve current problems.
• Team Work-Interdisciplinary: The future design leaders are supposed to work together with the engineers, business analysts, psychologists, and urban planners.
• Industry Integration: Practical involvement with industry projects and industry collaboration may turn out to be quite effective in reducing the gap between education and industry.

There are already some such institutions like the Stanford d.school in the US, Aalto University in Finland, and the Royal College of Art in the UK where strategic design as a field is already incorporated into the academic system offered by these institutions. The Indian institutions have to benchmark against these models of excellence and upgrade their standards to international levels.

Preparing for the Future There The future belongs to those who can adapt, co-operate, and innovate. In the following, strategic design education may enable students to Systems Think: Think about the larger economic, cultural, and environmental implications of decisions related to design. Innovate Responsibly discusses how innovation must target not only making profits but also meeting social responsibilities, being environmentally sustainable, being ethical, and being consistent with the Integration of Technology: This will help to incorporate technology, Artificial Intelligence, as well as analytics so as to enhance efficiencies but above all to make a difference in consumer experience. This mostly lies in the realm of 'how', rather than in the realm of 'what'. This shall be all about innovation rather than the aesthetics of design. This innovative design may well be the next big leap for the country, as it has very cutting-edge design innovation in the realm of the aesthetic.

Because fashion trends change with the seasons, the fashion sector is no longer just related to attires; rather, it is a representation of identity, mentality, and lifestyle. Such a passion for sustaining this trend can be easily identified among all people, right from children to seniors. Such is the reason for the ever-increasing demand for the fashion industry, which is most likely to provide good job opportunities for the masses in the days to come. The fashion industry in India is also expanding at a very rapid pace due to the meeting of the best of the past and the new.

The profession of fashion designing can be very rewarding if you have the ability to identify the latest fashion trends and then implement those trends to launch new ones. Apart from intuition, there is a need for industry-related knowledge in this area as well.

Skills that are mandatory for the purpose of succession as a Fashion Designer. Originality/creativity has always remained the deciding factor which would ensure a successful outcome of designs. This would help a person create new designs, copy, and then further enhance them as efficient designs, thus making that person a distinct fashion designer. The skill of drawing, creativity of artistic skills, and familiarity with fabrics, textures, colors, and match-and-mileage designs would help greatly in creating new designs. Although effective external communications are needed, an awareness about the current fashion designs’ trends would never prove a straightforward escaping channel for a fashion designer in the fashion sector.

Apart from this, several academic courses are also available for those students who are interested in pursuing fashion designing as their chosen profession. Based on interest and merit, these students are provided with undergraduate courses, postgraduate courses, diploma courses, as well as certificate courses. The most popular courses among these include Bachelor of Fashion Designing, BSc Fashion Designing, Bachelor of Fashion Communication, Diploma in Fashion Designing, and Diploma in Fashion Styling. The next level of courses among these include MA Fashion Designing, PG Diploma in Fashion Designing, and Master of Fashion Management. 

Career Prospects & Salary 

There are many opportunities available after completing the fashion designing course, and the individual can choose from these. They can work as a fashion designer, retail manager, fashion stylist, shoe/jewelry designer, personal shopper, make up artist, fashion photographer, fashion journalist, or textile designer. At the beginning of their career, their pay can be depending upon their skills or the company they are with in the start, but later on their pay increases enormously. They can also attain success and fame in the fashion industry as fashion designers specializing in fashion designing attain success and fame in the fashion industry as fashion designers. Conclusion: Fashion designing is a superb field offered to the youth as they have skill in creative thinking skills and can adjust themselves with the changes taking place in the fashion industry.

IDC School of Design at IIT Bombay calls for applications to the 2026–2028 MDes by Research programme, with its list of research topics open for candidates who would like to push the boundaries of design knowledge. Renowned for shaping thought leaders in the field, IDC's MDes by Research degree is aimed at young designers who want to enrich their expertise and give original research contributions to the global design community.

IDC has announced the following themes for current intake, representing state-of-the-art research areas that are aligned with emerging challenges in design—from Indian-language computing to AI-augmented workflows, inclusive design, indigenous knowledge systems, and the future of storytelling. The applicants need to choose one research topic from the following short-listed topics:

• Text input and localisation in Indian languages
• Collaborative learning environment design
• Product, furniture, and future-device hybridized design
• Tactile and visual CMF strategies for inclusion
• Game Design Applications Beyond Gaming
• Game structures, player interactions and player experience
• The changing language of virtual reality storytelling
• Practice-based research in animation & virtual museums
• Analytic provenance as a design material
• The evolving role of designers in India's policy and history
• Handcrafted Toys as Cultural Indicators
• Public sculpture and the making of public memory
• Human–AI collaboration in design teams
• AI as a Learning Companion for Design Students
• AI-enhanced workflows for small NGOs
• Tactile animation tools in the digital era
• XR frameworks for indigenous folklore preservation
• Devanagari typography and type design research

The IDC has put up a detailed document on each topic, listing past work, suggested readings, and sample questions. It is expected that an applicant study the material and submit a 500-word research proposal that clearly identifies a research question and method. Based on the CEED scores, shortlisted candidates will be required to take a written test and interview at IDC to assess their design aptitude and clarity on the chosen topic.

In the MDes by Research programme, students only spend about 25% of their time doing coursework, unlike other master's programs. The rest is devoted to supervised research projects with a view of producing academic publications. The duration for this program can be anytime between 1.5 and 3 years.

IDC has also hosted several preparatory webinars, including text input in Indian languages on Jan 4, 2025, and usable security on Jan 11, 2025, and an AMA session on March 8, 2025. These recordings are available at the links, though the first 30 minutes of the AMA were not captured due to a technical glitch. With design at the forefront of evolution across industries, technology, culture, policy, and access, the updated research themes at IIT Bombay address where the next wave of design innovation is really going to be. The official admission brochure for the 2026-2028 cycle will be available by mid-March 2026.