New Delhi: Over 1,400 students including 147 PhD scholars graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D), which held its 39th convocation here on Saturday.

Graduate, postgraduate, business administration and doctoral programme students received their degrees from R.K. Pachauri, chief of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

"They came as young children and are going as professionals. It's a happy moment for us," IIT Director Surendra Prasad said.

"This year we have produced more PhD students - 147 this year against 140 last year," he added.

Speaking about the increasing strength of students and available infrastructure, Prasad said IIT Delhi had "no problem with the infrastructure".

"Several new buildings and hostels are on the drawing board and they will come into existence in due course."

Speaking about the faculty shortage, Prasad said the IIT had instituted faculty fellowships to attract "young minds". "We have already added 27 faculties through this scheme."

Currently, the institute has 448 teachers for about 5,300 students.

Asked about the seats falling vacant due to the implementation of 27 percent quota for Other Backward Class (OBC) students, IIT authorities said that they have no seats vacant.

"We have already taken 21 students from our preparatory classes and there are no seats going empty due to the quota implementations," said Sunil Kalra, dean of undergraduate studies. IANS