The new academic session of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Patna began on a pleasant note on Tuesday.

Most of the newcomers came with their parents. They mingled with each other, visiting their respective departments, library, hostels and canteens.

Many of them reached the campus directly from the railway station or airport.

IIT-Patna, which shifted to its new campus in Bihta last year, introduced a new programme - BTech in chemical engineering - from this academic session.

The institute also introduced MSc in three basic sciences - physics, chemistry and mathematics.

The students' intake in BTech in chemical engineering is 25, while it is 14 in each of the MSc programmes.

With the introduction of the new BTech programme in chemical engineering, the total number of courses offered by the engineering cradle has gone up to five.

The institute offers BTech in computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical and civil engineering.

While the computer, electrical and mechanical were introduced in 2008 when the institute started its first academic session from the Patliputra Colony address, civil engineering was added in 2013.

Admission in MSc progarmme was carried out on the basis of Joint Admission Test, which is a centralised admission process in MSc programme for different IITs.

Aniket Sharma, a student who has taken admission in chemical engineering, was excited on seeing the infrastructure of the campus. He said: "We are happy with the infrastructure offered on this new campus. The future of chemical engineering is very promising, as the government is very keen in investing in chemical and petrochemical industries."

IIT-Patna, ranked as the tenth best engineering institute based on the National Institutional Ranking Framework, shifted to a new campus last year.

The institute, which sprawls across 500 acres, has different blocks such as academic, administrative and research laboratories.

Sharing the success mantra with the new students in the orientation programme, IIT director Pushpak Bhattacharyya said: "Gone are the days of comfort of home and familiar neighbourhood of assurance and acquaintance. Instead, students should awake and stop until the goal is reached."

The director, in his 30-minute speech, asked the students to invest on energy, attention and talent.

He added: "If a student has joined mechanical engineering here, they have to be an excellent mechanical engineers. Similarly, if a student has come to become a computer engineer, he or she should invest in understanding algorithms, programming and intelligence in machines."

From this year, IIT-Patna has introduced two-week regular lectures in science, technology and humanities, creative activities, sports and others to integrate the students to the life and times of IIT-Patna.

After the orientation programme, students were asked for register at the institute.