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IIT Mandi will host the 3rd International Mind, Brain and Consciousness Conference (MBCC 2026) at the Kamand campus from June 3 to June 6, 2026. This conference will invite researchers, cognitive scientists, mental health practitioners, and others to discuss the intersection of consciousness with AI, neuroscience and the Indian Knowledge Systems. The conference is being organized by the Indian Knowledge Systems and Mental Health Applications (IKSMHA) Centre at IIT Mandi. This interdisciplinary conference is one of the few international forums attempting to address the question of consciousness by integrating contemporary scientific approaches with traditional Indian knowledge systems . The conference has already garnered 400 participants from India and abroad and will have 250 presentations, 18 keynote lectures, invited talks, panel discussions, workshops, and interdisciplinary sessions.
The conference will also discuss the intersection of cognitive science, mental health, and philosophy with other disciplines in the framework of traditional knowledge systems. This interdisciplinary focus will allow students of Ayurveda, Yoga, Bharatanatyam, and other disciplines to exploit the nexus between cognitive science and mental health. MBCC 2026 will feature the participation of two of India's foremost cultural icons as special guests and will have Bharatanatyam as its preview. Padma Subrahmanyam will deliver a keynote address in dance form at the inaugural ceremony on June 3.
Also during the conference, Padma Bhushan Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, one of the largest Hindustani classical singers from India, will give a keynote address and offer a classical concert on June 4.
Key Highlights of MBCC 2026
- Conference will take place from June 3-6, 2026
- Hosted at IIT Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
- Welcoming guests from all over the world (400+ expected)
- 250+ technical presentations
- 18 keynote lectures and 8 invited talks
- 3 expert panel discussions
- Subjects covered will be consciousness studies, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, mental health, yoga, Ayurveda, Sanskrit studies, Indian Knowledge Systems, and many more
- Cultural performances by Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty
World Class Professionals Exploring the Future of Consciousness Research
India, the USA, the UK, Belgium, Mexico, and Israel will be represented by some of the best faculty in the world. A few of the leading experts will be Prof. Stuart Hameroff, Prof. Giorgio Ascoli, Prof. Dimitris A. Pinotsis, and Prof. Pieter-Jan Maes, as well as BK Shivani and Prof. Ganti S. Murthy, Prof. Sisir Roy, and Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay, and more. The Indian Knowledge Systems Division of the Ministry of Education is patronizing the event.
IIT Mandi Director Prof. Laxmidhar Behera stated that exploring the connections between the mind, brain, and consciousness may open new avenues for the solution of conceiving mental health problems and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. The conference demonstrates the commitment of India to merge scientific research with traditional knowledge systems. For students and young researchers, MBCC 2026 is an opportunity for early engagement to the novel interdisciplinary domains which are likely to transform global research, innovation, healthcare and education.
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