THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
APRIL 18, 2026
“Excellence is not optional but a commitment —
whatever you do, do it well,” said Prof. V. S. Ramamurthy, Padma Bhushan
awardee, as he addressed the graduating class at the 14th Convocation of IIT
Bhubaneswar, urging young minds to pursue distinction with commitment and
purpose in an increasingly competitive and collaborative global landscape.
The prestigious
ceremony witnessed the conferment of degrees upon 802 students for the academic
year 2024-25, marking a significant milestone for the institute. Among them
were 96 PhD scholars, 177 M.Tech graduates, 96 M.Sc students, 102 Dual Degree
recipients, and 325 B.Tech graduates. The occasion brought together students,
parents, faculty, and dignitaries in a celebration of academic excellence and
achievement.
Delivering a
thought-provoking convocation address, Prof. Ramamurthy highlighted the
importance of perseverance, long-term vision, and global collaboration in
achieving transformative breakthroughs. Citing the discovery of the Higgs boson
as an example, he emphasized that pathbreaking innovations are rarely the
result of isolated efforts but emerge from sustained, collective endeavors. He
also underlined India’s rising stature in global scientific missions, noting
that the country is now contributing as an equal partner with competitive
quality and impact. Urging institutions to transcend traditional boundaries, he
called for embracing international collaboration with the spirit of
“cooperation while competing” to drive research and innovation forward.
Earlier, Prof.
Shreepad Karmalkar, Director of IIT Bhubaneswar, presented a comprehensive
report on the institute’s progress and achievements. He described the
convocation as a moment of pride and fulfilment, reflecting the institute’s
commitment to nurturing not just competent professionals but responsible
individuals with strong character. He expressed confidence that the graduating
students, equipped with critical thinking and innovative skills, would make
meaningful contributions to society.
Highlighting the
institute’s forward-looking vision, Prof. Karmalkar noted ongoing efforts to
strengthen research capabilities, foster innovation, expand industry–academia
partnerships, and build a vibrant startup ecosystem. He also emphasized the
institute’s focus on infrastructure development, sustainability initiatives,
interdisciplinary research, and global collaborations aimed at preparing
graduates for a rapidly evolving technological world.
The Director also
conveyed the message of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Singh, Chairman of the Board of
Governors, in his absence.
The convocation also recognized outstanding academic achievements through a series of prestigious awards. The President of India Gold Medal for best academic performance among B.Tech students was awarded to Varun Varma Jaganath of Mechanical Engineering. Director’s Gold Medals were conferred upon Vedanta Mohapatra (Dual Degree, Computer Science and Engineering), Harsh Neel Mani (M.Tech, Computer Science and Engineering), and Anannya Bhowmik (M.Sc, Chemistry).
In addition, Institute Silver Medals were presented to meritorious students across B.Tech, Dual Degree, M.Tech, and M.Sc programmes. Several endowment awards were also conferred, including the Dr. K. Kasturirangan Award for the best male graduate (Varun Varma Jaganath) and the Prof. P. Rama Rao Award for the best lady graduate (Adrija Patra).
