NIT Rourkela Awards 2,033 Degrees at 24th Convocation; 47 International Students Graduate

NIT Rourkela Awards 2,033 Degrees at 24th Convocation; 47 International Students Graduate

Rourkela, September 12, 2026: National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) celebrated its 24th Convocation Ceremony, awarding degrees to a total of 2,033 graduating students across undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes. Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Member, NITI Aayog, delivered the Convocation address as the Chief Guest, while Prof. Bidyadhar Subudhi, Director, NIT Warangal, attended the ceremony as the Guest of Honour.

The ceremony brought together graduating students, faculty members, institute leadership, families and distinguished guests to mark the completion of the academic journey of the 2026 graduating batch.

2,033 Students Receive Degrees Across Academic Programmes

NIT Rourkela awarded degrees across a wide range of programmes. The graduating cohort comprised 508 female and 1,525 male students.

The course-wise distribution of degrees was:

80 Academic Awards Presented for Excellence

To recognise outstanding academic performance, NIT Rourkela presented 11 Institute Gold Medals, 6 Endowment Gold Medals, 8 Endowment Awards and 61 Institute Silver Medals to students of the graduating batch.

The awards highlighted academic excellence and achievement across different programmes.

Prof. Abhay Karandikar Urges Graduates to Embrace AI and Emerging Technologies

Delivering the Convocation address, Chief Guest Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Member, NITI Aayog, encouraged graduates to embrace artificial intelligence and emerging technologies while maintaining strong fundamentals in science and engineering.

He also highlighted the importance of curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and ethical judgment, urging graduates to use their knowledge to address real-world challenges and create meaningful social impact.

He said:

“India stands at a defining moment in its journey towards becoming a developed nation, and you are the generation that will shape this future.”

Prof. Karandikar further advised students to continue learning, innovate responsibly and focus not only on professional success but also on creating a meaningful impact on society.

Guest of Honour Highlights Character, Integrity and Lifelong Learning

Prof. Bidyadhar Subudhi, Director, NIT Warangal, congratulated the graduating students and urged them to prioritise excellence, integrity, lifelong learning and purpose.

He emphasised that degrees and medals represent past academic performance, while character and the impact created through one's work will ultimately define long-term success.

NIT Rourkela Chairman Calls on Students to Dream Big

Shri S. N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman, Board of Governors, NIT Rourkela, highlighted the rapidly changing professional environment shaped by artificial intelligence, digitalisation, sustainability, renewable energy and automation.

Addressing the graduates, he encouraged them to embrace continuous learning, adaptability, integrity and excellence while remaining grounded and recognising the contribution of their parents and teachers.

He also urged students to dream big, embrace failure and pursue meaningful achievements, while using their knowledge to contribute to society.

NIT Rourkela Director Emphasises Problem-Solving and Purpose

Presenting the Institute Report, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, described the convocation as both the culmination of students' academic journey and the beginning of a new phase involving greater opportunities and responsibilities.

Addressing the graduating students, he encouraged them to become creators, problem-solvers and leaders capable of responding to complexity and uncertainty.

He said:

“Do not merely identify problems, be the ones who find solutions.”

Prof. Rao also encouraged graduates to contribute to India's journey towards greater self-reliance and an Atmanirbhar Bharat by building, innovating and leading with purpose.

47 International Students Graduate

An important feature of this year's convocation was the graduation of 47 international students from different academic programmes.

The international graduates included:

• 19 students from Nepal

• 13 from Bangladesh

• 6 from the United States of America

• 5 from Sri Lanka

• 3 from Bhutan

• 1 from Yemen

The participation of international students reflects the institute's academic engagement beyond India and the diversity of its graduating cohort.

NIT Rourkela's Academic Programmes

NIT Rourkela currently offers B.Tech. programmes in 17 disciplines across 14 departments, along with a Bachelor of Architecture programme through the Department of Planning and Architecture.

Its academic offerings also include an MBA through the School of Management, M.Tech. programmes in 31 specialisations across 12 departments, four B.Tech.–M.Tech. dual-degree programmes across four departments, four Integrated M.Sc. programmes and seven M.Sc. programmes across five departments.

Distinguished Alumnus Awards Presented to Two Alumni

The 24th Convocation also featured Distinguished Alumnus Awards recognising two alumni for their contributions in different fields.

The awardees were:

• Industry and Management: Mr. Rajarshi Gupta, Managing Director & CEO, ONGC Videsh Limited

• Entrepreneurship and Public Life: Mr. Gyana Ranjan Mohanty, Managing Director, Corrosion Protection Limited and Co-founder, B. Engineers & Builders Pvt. Ltd.

NIT Rourkela Convocation 2026: Key Highlights

• Institute: National Institute of Technology Rourkela

• Event: 24th Convocation Ceremony

• Date: September 12, 2026

• Total degrees awarded: 2,033

• Female graduates: 508

• Male graduates: 1,525

• International graduates: 47

• Institute Gold Medals: 11

• Endowment Gold Medals: 6

• Endowment Awards: 8

• Institute Silver Medals: 61

• Chief Guest: Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Member, NITI Aayog

• Guest of Honour: Prof. Bidyadhar Subudhi, Director, NIT Warangal

• Distinguished Alumnus Awardees: Rajarshi Gupta and Gyana Ranjan Mohanty

FAQs

Q1. How many degrees were awarded at NIT Rourkela's 24th Convocation?
NIT Rourkela awarded 2,033 degrees at its 24th Convocation held on September 12, 2026.

Q2. How many students graduated from NIT Rourkela in 2026?
A total of 2,033 students graduated across undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes.

Q3. How many international students graduated from NIT Rourkela?
A total of 47 international students graduated from different academic programmes at the 24th Convocation.

Q4. Who was the Chief Guest at NIT Rourkela's 24th Convocation?
Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Member, NITI Aayog, was the Chief Guest and delivered the Convocation address.

Q5. Who attended the NIT Rourkela Convocation as Guest of Honour?
Prof. Bidyadhar Subudhi, Director, NIT Warangal, attended the ceremony as the Guest of Honour.

Q6. How many B.Tech. students received degrees at NIT Rourkela's 24th Convocation?
A total of 911 B.Tech. students received their degrees, including 188 female and 723 male students.

Q7. How many PhD students graduated from NIT Rourkela in 2026?
NIT Rourkela awarded 190 PhD degrees, including 75 female and 115 male graduates.

Q8. What academic awards were presented at the NIT Rourkela Convocation?
The institute awarded 11 Institute Gold Medals, 6 Endowment Gold Medals, 8 Endowment Awards and 61 Institute Silver Medals.

Q9. Who received the Distinguished Alumnus Award at NIT Rourkela's 24th Convocation?
The Distinguished Alumnus Awards were presented to Mr. Rajarshi Gupta for Industry and Management and Mr. Gyana Ranjan Mohanty for Entrepreneurship and Public Life.

Q10. What did Prof. Abhay Karandikar advise graduating students?
Prof. Karandikar urged students to embrace AI and emerging technologies while maintaining strong fundamentals in science and engineering. He also emphasised curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, ethical judgment and responsible innovation.

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