Anant Yardi, a 1968‑batch alumnus of IIT Delhi and founder of Yardi Systems, has pledged Rs 150 crore to his alma mater, one of the largest alumni contributions in recent years. The donation will support the Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence and help expand campus infrastructure to meet growing academic and research needs.
Anant Yardi is an IIT Delhi‑educated technocrat, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose journey began at the Indian Institute of Technology in the late 1960s. A 1968‑batch graduate, Yardi later moved to the United States, where he founded Yardi Systems, a leading software company that develops solutions for real estate and property management. Over decades, he built a global enterprise and became a prominent Indian‑origin entrepreneur, yet he has consistently chosen to invest his success back into higher education.
In a major reaffirmation of his commitment to IIT Delhi, Yardi has pledged Rs 150 crore to the institute, with Rs 75 crore already released and the balance to be disbursed in phases. A significant portion of the gift is directed toward the Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence (ScAI), established in 2020 to foster advanced research and education in AI, machine learning, data science, robotics, and related applications. The school brings together more than 40 faculty members across disciplines, enabling interdisciplinary work that can translate into real‑world solutions.
Part of the donation will also fund campus‑infrastructure expansion, including new hostels and an academic block, to accommodate rising student numbers and support future‑ready facilities. IIT Delhi has described the contribution as a “transformational” gift that will strengthen its leadership in AI and emerging technologies. Yardi has said that IIT Delhi gave him a strong foundation, and he now wants to ensure that future generations of students receive even better opportunities in research and innovation.
By combining his corporate success with long‑term educational giving, Anant Yardi has positioned himself as one of IIT Delhi’s most impactful alumni, helping to shape India’s AI‑led future from within the country.