NIT Rourkela celebrates 22nd Convocation Day with 2065 Graduating Students

Aligning with the Government’s Digital India vision, NIT Rourkela will provide DigiLocker access to all graduating students, enabling seamless retrieval of their digital degree certificates alongside hard copies

Ø  Live event on – NIT Rourkela 22^nd Convocation

ROURKELA, 20^th June 2025: National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) celebrated its 22nd Convocation with a graduating class of 2065 students (457 female & 1608 male) today, 20^th June 2025. Shri Uday A. Kaole, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited graced the event as the Chief Guest. Shri S. N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman, Board of Governors, NIT Rourkela, virtually addressed the gathering, and Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, presented the Director’s report.

Speaking during the event, Shri Uday A. Kaole, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, and Chief Guest, NIT Rourkela 22^nd Convocation, said, “It gives me immense pleasure to be part of the 22nd Convocation of NIT Rourkela. To the graduating class, I would like to highlight that this milestone marks the beginning of a new journey for all of you. A journey where the world will look to you not just for your knowledge, but for your wisdom, integrity, and courage. In the ever-evolving landscape of industry, technology, and society, adaptability, curiosity, and lifelong learning will be your greatest assets. Let your education empower you to be not only successful professionals, but also responsible citizens committed to inclusive growth and sustainable development.”

To honour academic excellence, the Institute will award 8 Institute Gold Medals, 6 Endowment Gold Medals, 7 Endowment Awards, and 59 Silver Medals to branch toppers of the graduating batch of the year 2024.

Degrees awarded were:

COURSE	GRADUATING STUDENTS
Bachelor of Technology	1061 (200 female and 861 male)
Bachelor of Architecture	21 (8 female and 13 male)
B.Tech. - M.Tech. Dual Degree	39 (01 female and 38 male)
Integrated Master of Science (5 years)	68 (10 female and 58 male)
Master of Science	180 (68 female and 112 male)
Master of Arts	06 (02 female and 04 male)
Master of Business Administration	43 (20 female and 23 male)
Master of Technology	469 (84 female and 385 male)
Master of Technology (Research)	01 (01 female and 00 male)
Doctor of Philosophy	177 (63 female and 114 male)
Total - 2065

The Institute has seen a rise in the number of female students passing out in different streams. This year a total of 457 (more than 22% of graduating students) female students including 208 in Bachelor programs; 186 in Master programs, and 63 in PhD program have graduated from NIT Rourkela.

Addressing the graduating class during his virtual address, Shri S. N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman, Board of Governors, NIT Rourkela, said. “We are truly in an era of youth, brimming with opportunities and boundless potential. The digital revolution is reshaping industries and opening doors to innovation and connectivity. The nation's focus on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies underscores its commitment to staying at the forefront of global advancements. As you graduate today, this era offers you a world of opportunities while also calling for action, to seize the moment and reach new heights that create a meaningful impact on the world. For every contribution you make, your alma mater will stand by you. As you embark on this exciting journey filled with promise and achievement, I wish you the very best.”

Another key highlight of this year’s convocation was the graduation of 93 (72 male and 21 female) international students from various academic programs. These include:

• 4 students from the United States of America
• 5 from Afghanistan
• 3 from Sri Lanka
• 5 from Bhutan
• 21 from Bangladesh
• 30 from Nepal
• 25 Non-Resident Indian (NRI) students from India

While presenting the Director’s report, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, said, “On behalf of the institute I congratulate the graduating class of 2024 on their Convocation. Being one of India’s leading technical Institutions, NIT Rourkela takes pride in nurturing competent professionals and responsible citizens. By introducing new age programs such as B.Tech. in Artificial Intelligence, and a growing international student community, we are preparing our graduates to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.”

Further Prof. Rao said, “We are honored to once again be entrusted by the Ministry of Education with conducting CSAB 2025 and DASA 2025. NIT Rourkela’s rising national and global rankings, including 19^th position in Engineering and 1st among NITs in the THE Asia Rankings, reflect our growing impact. NIT Rourkela is the only NIT across the country and only institute from eastern India to be selected as hub institution under the prestigious ANRF PAIR program. On the patent front, NIT Rourkela has filed 160 proposals, out of which, in the year 2024, 26 were obtained.”

With 20 academic departments, NIT Rourkela offers a wide range of engineering degree programs beyond the core disciplines, including Food Processing, Industrial Design, Biomedical Engineering, and Life Sciences, among others.

Another key highlight of the 22^nd Convocation ceremony included Distinguished Alumnus Awards to 4 alumni of NIT Rourkela. These included –

• Academia and Research - Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India
• Industry and Management - Er. Ashok Kumar Basa, Managing Director, C.E.M. Engineers & Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
• Entrepreneurship and Public Life - Er. R. S. Raghavan, Managing Director, Proman Infrastructure Services Pvt. Ltd.
• Contribution Made to the Growth of the Institute - Dr. Bhartendu Deo, Head of Electrical, Qatargas North Field Expansion Project

Please refer to the attached Annexure 1 for more details on the distinguished alumni*

Prof. Siba Sankar Mahapatra, Professor in charge, 22nd Convocation ceremony of NIT Rourkela said, “Aligning with the vision of Digital India, apart from the hard copies, NIT Rourkela will upload the graduating students' degree certificates and transcripts on DigiLocker. This facility will help the graduating students in carrying their degree in a digital wallet and free of the administrative hassles of a printed copy.”