Bangalore, July 05, 2026: The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) hosted its 26th annual convocation today. The ceremony was graced by Chief Guest, Professor Rajat Moona, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar; Guest of Honour, Dr.V Veerappan, Cofounder and President, Tessolve Semiconductor & Chairman ELCITA. The ceremony was presided over by the IIIT-Bangalore Governing Body Chairman, Padma Bhushan Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan in the presence of Dr. Debabrata Das, Director of IIIT-Bangalore.

The ceremony that took place on the serene campus of IIIT-Bangalore saw 316 students graduate from the institute. The students were from various academic programs: 95 graduates from the Integrated Master of Technology, 175 from the Master of Technology, 32 from the Master of Science by Research, and 14 PhD scholars.

This year, one of the students’ from Integrated M.Tech. program has secured a record package of 1.5 crore, with two students securing packages of ₹1.3 crore. Over 22 students have secured annual salary packages exceeding 60 lakhs, 27 students have received packages between 40-60 lakhs, and over 110 students have been offered packages above 20 lakhs per annum. These impressive figures highlight IIIT-B’s commitment to excellence in teaching and research by hard work of students and the high regard in which our graduates are held by top employers.

The Convocation also marked two significant milestones in the Institute’s journey. IIIT-Bangalore celebrated the graduation of its 100th PhD scholar in Computer Science and Engineering, Dr. Vikas, a neurosurgeon from NIMHANS whose work exemplifies the transformative power of interdisciplinary research and underscores the profound convergence of medicine and deep technology. The Institute also crossed the landmark figure of 5,000+ alumni, further strengthening its global community of innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.

Congratulating the students on their graduation, Dr. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore, said, “The graduating Class of 2026 has demonstrated exceptional talent, resilience, and a spirit of innovation across academics, research, entrepreneurship, sports, and the arts. Our students have excelled in prestigious national and international competitions, secured top honours in hackathons and programming contests, published impactful research, and contributed to cutting-edge innovations in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Digital Public Infrastructure, Communication, Semiconductor Design, Healthcare Technologies, and Software Systems etc. As our graduates embark on their next journey, I encourage them to remain curious, embrace lifelong learning, and use technology with purpose and responsibility. The theme of this year’s Convocation, ‘Wings of Excellence,’ reflects our belief that true excellence lies not only in professional success but also in creating a positive impact on society. I am confident that our graduates will continue to make their alma mater and the nation proud.”

The highlights of the ceremony included recognizing outstanding student achievements through a series of prestigious awards and medals. The Institute Gold Medal for M.Tech. was awarded to Singuru Manognya, while Subhajeet Lahiri received the Institute Gold Medal for Integrated M.Tech. The Sir M. Visvesvaraya Scholarship Awards were conferred on Subhajeet Lahiri and Ketaki Srikrishna Tamhanakar. The Mrs Uma & Late Prof. Mahabala Medals for Best Outgoing M.Tech. Students were awarded to Shubh Sanjaykumar Patel and Singuru Manognya. Siddharth Kothari received the Sitaram Jindal Gold Medal and was also honoured with the Late Sri N. Rama Rao Medal for Best Outgoing Student (Male), while Yukta Arvind Rajapur received the corresponding medal for Best Outgoing Student (Female). The Ravi Ravindran Gold Medal for the Best PhD Thesis was awarded to Tushar Vrind. The Institute Medals for contributions to community and professional life were conferred on Sankalp Kothari and Daksh Sharma, respectively. The Late Sri N. Rama Rao Medal for Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Anshu Jain, an alumnus of the M.Tech. 2003–05 batch.

IIIT-Bangalore has started India’s first Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Division in academia. IIIT-B’s DPI and R&D products are being used in over 40 countries and serving 200 million citizens. Tele-MANAS, the national tele-mental health platform developed by IIIT-B, has crossed 40 lakh calls.

Since its establishment in 1998, IIIT-Bangalore has consistently achieved outstanding placement results, year after year. This success is largely due to the support from the industry and the ever-growing network of talented and accomplished alumni.

Gopalakrishnan articulated a bold vision, outlining the university’s steadfast commitment to excellence, leadership, and nation-building. “Institutions live beyond individuals… our goal is to build an institution that lasts beyond its founders, leaving a lasting legacy,” he stated. He emphasized that Nayanta University will be instrumental in developing leaders who will drive India’s progress, ensuring that the university’s impact resonates for generations to come.

The name “Nayanta” is derived from two Sanskrit words meaning “new” and “hope.” The Pune-based university is dedicated to cultivating critical thinking and creative skills through an interdisciplinary approach and has begun the enrollment process for its inaugural batch of students, set to commence in August 2025. The focus of the university is on integrating arts and science education with multidisciplinary electives and hands-on experience.

Gopalakrishnan said that the vision for Nayanta is to create a world-class institution that will attract students and faculty from around the globe. With a foundation built by some of India’s leading industry figures, the university will prioritize quality over quantity. “From faculty to students, every aspect of the university will embody the highest standards, distinguishing us from other institutions,” he added.

He also called upon the public to engage with the institution and contribute in its development. “We are very clear that our stakeholders encompass the entire society. We want to ensure that this dialogue not only explains our vision but also gathers feedback on how we can achieve our goals and the steps we need to take,” he said.

The launch event was attended by several prominent individuals, including Dr Naushad Forbes, Chancellor of Nayanta and co-chair of Forbes Marshall; Dr Ranjan Banerjee, CEO of Nayanta Education Foundation; and D Parthasarathy, Dean of the university.