NIT Raipur Convenes 17th Convocation as Reddy Inaugurates Seven Centres of Excellence
RAIPUR, November 3, 2026
The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur organised its 17th convocation ceremony at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium on November 3, 2026. Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy attended the event as the chief guest alongside special guests Brijmohan Agrawal, Member of Parliament for Raipur, and N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary of DSIR. Suresh Haware, Chairman of the Board of Governors, presided over the ceremony, which welcomed Director N. V. Ramana Rao, senate and board members, faculty, parents, and graduating students.
Earlier in the day, Reddy inaugurated seven new research facilities at the institute: the MeitY IndiaAI Chhattisgarh Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, the Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals, the Centre of Excellence in Computational Mechanics, the Centre of Space and Interplanetary Exploration (COSINE), the Mairal Centre for Innovation in Rural and Tribal Health, the Centre of Excellence for Aerospace and Autonomous Technologies, and the Centre for Nanoscience and Sustainable Energy Technologies. These facilities promote advanced research and interdisciplinary collaboration to address emerging technological challenges.
The institute conferred degrees upon 1,364 students, comprising 976 undergraduate, 283 postgraduate, and 105 PhD recipients. A total of 51 medals were awarded to branch toppers, including 25 gold medals, 25 silver medals, and the Institute Gold Medal. Aatmika Gangeley of BTech Computer Science and Engineering received the overall topper award.
Delivering the presidential address, Haware remarked that graduates entering the workforce represent the future engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and leaders of the country. He recalled Reddy’s journey from a farming family to public service since 2004 and emphasized that core subjects remain essential for electricity generation and other critical tasks that artificial intelligence cannot perform. He urged students to embrace modern technologies without abandoning fundamental principles.
Agrawal addressed the audience to highlight that innovation and research are vital for human and national development. He encouraged the institute to source critical minerals domestically and urged students to utilise artificial intelligence to help India compete globally.
Reddy urged graduates to view challenges in energy, supply chains, health, employment, and agriculture as opportunities for building a self-reliant nation. He noted that the National Education Policy 2020 prioritises skill-based learning over rote learning and pointed out that Indians comprise roughly one-third of technical professionals in Silicon Valley.
Director N. V. Ramana Rao introduced the dignitaries and delivered the institute report, noting that NIT Raipur secured a place in the 1201–1400 band of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 and received the Bharat Incubator Award 2025 for NITRRFIE. The 2026 graduating batch secured 821 placement offers, with a highest annual package of ₹60 lakh, while 18 faculty members and four students appeared on Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% scientists.
Kalaiselvi described coal as a primary resource whose value chain can be optimised into advanced economic output. She emphasised the necessity of zero-carbon technologies in alignment with Aatmanirbhar Bharat and commended the metallurgy department for establishing a dedicated Centre of Excellence.
