Jamshedpur, March 14: After academics, it is extra-curricular activities, which tops the priority list of the Adityapur-based National Institute of Technology (NIT).

Taking a cue from IIT-Kharagpur, the institute has constituted “Technology Students Gymkhana” (TSG) to promote extra-curricular activities in a big way.

According to NIT officials, TSG has been formed to provide the technocrats a platform to promote sports and related activities.

Headed by A.K.L. Srivastava, an assistant professor of applied mechanics, TSG would promote activities such as debates, sports, music and fine arts.

Elaborating on the concept, dean, students’ affairs of NIT, N.K. Narayan said a series of events would be conducted under the banner of TSG and experts from different fields would be invited on the campus to guide the students.

According to Narayan, other NITs are also constituting similar forums, which aims at honing the inner talents of students.

Plans are being made to organise inter-NIT sports meet between NITs of the eastern region including NIT-Rourkela, NIT-Durgapur and NIT-Jamshedpur similar to that organised by B-Schools, he said.

“Inter-B-school sports meet between Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI) and Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Calcutta is a regular affair. The events provide the students of both the institutes an opportunity to interact and share their experiences both in academics and sports during their stay at each other’s campus. We are also planning to invite students of other NITs who can stay here and participate in extra-curricular activities, which would help build a good relationship between NITs,” said Narayan.

Narayan, who has served the institute as sports in-charge for nearly 15 years, said so far the annual sports meet was the only event in the institutes sports calendar.

But, with the formation of TSG, the institute is planning to organise more indoor and outdoor tournaments, he added.