Pilani, Rajasthan — In a historic gesture of gratitude and philanthropy, Indian American couple Chand P. Garg and his wife Manju Garg have donated USD 4 million to BITS Pilani, marking the largest individual contribution ever made by alumni to the institution.
The donation will directly support 16 meritorious students annually, with a special emphasis on girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to pursue education without financial barriers.
Chand Garg, a 1968 batch Mechanical Engineering graduate, credits BITS Pilani as the foundation of his professional success in international trade. Through this contribution, the couple aims to ensure that talented students facing financial constraints can access the transformative education that shaped Garg's own remarkable journey.
Key Facts
• USD 4 million donation from Chand P. Garg (class of 1968) and wife Manju Garg to support 16 scholarships annually with focus on economically disadvantaged girls at BITS Pilani
• BITS Pilani's endowment fund has now crossed USD 34 million, putting the institution on track toward its USD 100 million goal, the first such endowment among India's private higher education institutions
• The couple's contribution represents alumni-led philanthropy to strengthen faculty excellence, research capacity, and global academic engagement at BITS Pilani as of February 2026
Chand Garg's success story began at BITS Pilani decades ago, where he discovered his passion for international commerce and entrepreneurship. Today, he serves as a shining example of how BITS education empowers students to achieve extraordinary professional heights.
This donation carries profound significance for BITS Pilani's long-term vision of becoming a globally ranked university. The contribution directly addresses one of the institution's core challenges: ensuring that financial limitations never prevent talented students from accessing world-class education.
Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani, emphasized the ripple effect of such generosity.
The scholarship program will benefit students who demonstrate exceptional academic merit but face genuine financial hardship. This targeted approach ensures that scholarships reach those who need them most while maintaining BITS Pilani's reputation for academic rigor and merit-based selection.
Chand Garg himself reflected on why this donation felt necessary and personal.
Prof. Sudhirkumar Barai, Director of BITS Pilani's Pilani Campus, called this contribution a benchmark moment for alumni engagement.
The broader Indian American community has increasingly embraced philanthropic contributions to educational institutions in India, strengthening ties between diaspora communities and their motherland. This donation represents not just financial support but a values-driven commitment to accessible education and meritocracy.
With USD 34 million already secured toward the USD 100 million endowment goal, BITS Pilani is demonstrating remarkable momentum in its fundraising efforts. The institution's five-decade legacy of academic excellence and innovation has cultivated a deeply committed global alumni base willing to invest in future generations.
The Garg family's donation signals an emerging trend where successful alumni increasingly view their alma mater not as an institution of the past but as a partner in shaping India's educational future. Such contributions create multiplier effects: each scholarship transforms not just one student's life but potentially influences an entire family's trajectory and social mobility.
Prospective BITS Pilani students, particularly girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, now have expanded scholarship opportunities through this initiative. The selection process emphasizes merit alongside financial need, ensuring that the institution continues attracting exceptional talent from all socioeconomic strata.
Looking ahead, BITS Pilani aims to continue building its endowment fund through similar alumni partnerships, gradually reducing dependence on tuition fees and creating an increasingly accessible institution. Future contributions from alumni worldwide will determine how quickly the university reaches its transformational USD 100 million goal.
Do You Know?
BITS Pilani established its USD 100 million Endowment Fund as the first of its kind among non-government higher education institutions in India, setting a new benchmark for private university fundraising and alumni engagement in the country.
Key Terms
• Endowment Fund: A permanent financial reserve where invested funds generate annual returns to support scholarships, research, and institutional operations indefinitely
• Merit-Based Scholarship: Financial aid awarded primarily based on academic excellence, grades, and test scores rather than financial need alone
• Alumni Philanthropy: Charitable giving by former graduates to support their alma mater's mission, programs, and student support initiatives
• Institute of Eminence: An official designation by India's Ministry of Education recognizing select institutions for academic excellence and global competitiveness
Asia91 Original