Dhanbad: IIT(ISM) is gearing up to host prime minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest during the 38th and 39th convocation to be held simultaneously coinciding with his visit to the state in the first week of May, the institution's authorities have said.

A total of 3814 students from 2016 and 2017 are likely to receive their degrees during the event. The convocation for the 2016 batch could not be held as the prime minister's office could not confirm his availability then.

This is also the first time that the premier school of technology will award IIT degrees since being upgraded to the elite club in August 2016.

Revealing details, IIT(ISM) mining engineering professor and associate dean of infrastructure Dheeraj Kumar said a final date is yet to be decided. "Preparations are in full swing for the function, which in all likelihood, will be held in early May when the prime minister tours Jharkhand to inaugurate several projects and schemes. Everybody on the campus, from the teachers and students to officials and non-teaching staff, is very excited about the programme since this is the first convocation since the upgradation of ISM into IIT and the prime minister himself is likely to distribute the degrees."

Owing to the large number of students, the event could be held over two days, Kumar said.

During his visit to the institute, the prime minister is also likely to the inaugurate new library building, considered to be the tallest library of the country, and a 1000-bed girls' hostel, titled Rosaline Hostel.

Meanwhile all the buildings on the 250-acre campus in Seraidhela are being given a fresh coat of paint. The institution's dean of academics G. Udaya Bhanu said the printing of certificates and preparation of medals are likely to be over in the next 10 days.

"The event will be held at Penman Auditorium. Accommodation for outstation students and other guests attending the programme will be made at the Executive Development Centre of the institute," Bhanu further said.