BITS Pilani Goa's 2026 Convocation: 1,109 Graduates Honored with Degrees; Shamit Khetan Receives Gold Medal

The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani Goa celebrated its Convocation 2026, marking a significant milestone for 1,109 graduates who received their degrees across various programs. The ceremony took place at the K K Birla Goa Campus, where students were awarded degrees in first-degree, dual-degree, higher-degree, and PhD programs. Among the graduates, 674 received first degrees, 257 earned dual degrees, 121 completed higher degrees, and 57 scholars were conferred PhDs.

Rakesh Kumar Verma, co-founder, chairman, and managing director of MapmyIndia, and a distinguished alumnus of BITS Pilani, served as the chief guest for the event. The ceremony was attended by BITS Pilani Group Vice Chancellor V Ramgopal Rao, Goa campus Director Suman Kundu, faculty members, officials, students, and their families, all gathered to celebrate the achievements of the graduating class.

Among the notable awardees, Shamit Khetan was honored with the Gold Medal for first-degree students, while Vrishti Deepak Godhwani and Aditya Ashok Tailor received the Silver and Bronze Medals, respectively. In the higher-degree category, the Gold Medal was jointly awarded to Sumit Sakharam Ghodke and Rudraksh Alias Bhagwant Mukund Suryarao Sardesai, with Vignesh A and Neelima M receiving the Silver Medal. The institute also recognized outstanding research and academic contributions through awards such as the Suman Kapur Memorial Best PhD Thesis Award 2026 and the Raghurama Outstanding Student Award 2025-26.

This year, the Goa campus introduced several new academic programs, including ME degrees in Quantum Science and Technology and Quantum Information Processing, as well as a Minor in Computing and Intelligence. Additionally, a 2+2 undergraduate Computer Science program was launched in collaboration with RMIT University, Australia, allowing students to study at both institutions. The campus has also seen a surge in research activity, securing 91 sponsored research projects valued at over Rs 30.72 crore and producing 720 research publications in diverse fields such as quantum technologies and green hydrogen.

In his address to the graduates, V Ramgopal Rao emphasized the significance of interdisciplinary learning and announced that the institute is actively redesigning its curriculum to incorporate flexible, cross-disciplinary electives and expanded minors. This initiative aims to enhance the educational experience and better prepare students for the evolving demands of the global workforce.