THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 5, 2026

The 22nd Annual Convocation of KIIT Deemed to be University (KIIT-DU) concluded here on Sunday with eminent personalities calling upon more than 10,000 graduating students to embrace emerging opportunities, foster innovation and shoulder their social responsibilities.

Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav described KIIT's remarkable journey as a lesson in “vision, perseverance and determination” and lauded its founder Achyuta Samanta, along with the university's leadership, faculty and staff, for their contribution to higher education and national development.

Addressing the graduating students, NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Ashok Kumar Lahiri said India's future would be shaped by technology and modernisation, while emphasising that the country's traditions and cultural values must be preserved alongside technological progress.

US Congressman Michael Baumgartner, a member of the United States House of Representatives, said he was pleased to be part of the convocation and underlined the role of educational institutions in strengthening peace and stability across the world. Montana State University President Brock Tessman also addressed the gathering.

The three-day convocation featured addresses by several eminent personalities, including Motilal Oswal, Co-Founder, Group Managing Director and CEO of Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd; Goutam Roy Chowdhury, Chairman and Chancellor of Techno India Group and Techno India University, Kolkata; and senior journalist Chitra Tripathi of ABP News.

Oswal praised Samanta's dedication to building KIIT and KISS, saying the campuses had been created through his “dedication, efforts and sacrifices” since 1992.

NITI Aayog Member Gobardhan Das, Rector of the University of Craiova, Romania, Cezar Ionuț Spînu, and Homi Bhabha National Institute Dean and Senior Professor Avesh Kumar Tyagi were among the other speakers during the convocation.

RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group Founder and Chairman Sanjiv Goenka told the graduates that immense opportunities awaited them as they entered a “resurgent India”. SRM Group Chairman and SRM University Delhi-NCR Chancellor Ravi Pachamuthu also addressed the graduating students.

Several international delegates attended the three-day event, reflecting the university's growing global academic engagement.

KIIT-DU founder Achyuta Samanta was present throughout the convocation, which was presided over by university Chancellor Ashok Kumar Parija. Vice Chancellor Saranjit Singh and Pro Vice Chancellor (Administration)-cum-Registrar Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty were also present.

During the three-day ceremony, students were recognised for excellence in academics and various fields with prestigious honours, including the Founder's Gold Medal, Chancellor's Gold Medal, P K Bal Memorial Gold Medal, Paradeep Phosphates Ltd (PPL) Gold Medal, Nanibala Memorial Gold Medal, Shri Krushna Chandra Panda Memorial Gold Medal and Dr Wati Paramguru Memorial Gold Medal.

The Vice-Chancellor's Silver Medal, Dr Nitish Kanta Silver Medal and Mrs Manju Rath Silver Medal were also presented to meritorious students.