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Distinguished Alumnus and MapmyIndia Co-Founder & CMD Mr. Rakesh Kumar Verma Delivers Convocation Address GOA, 10th August 2026: BITS Pilani’s K K Birla Goa Campus today celebrated the achievements of 1,109 graduating students at its Convocation 2026, marking another milestone in the Institute’s journey of nurturing globally competent engineers, scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs. The Convocation was graced by Mr. Rakesh Kumar Verma, Co-Founder and Chairman & Managing Director, MapmyIndia, a distinguished alumnus of BITS Pilani, as the Chief Guest. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani, in the presence of Prof. Suman Kundu, Director, BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, along with members of the Board of Governors, faculty, students, and their families. The graduating cohort comprised 674 First Degree, 257 Dual Degree, 121 Higher Degree (M.E.), and 57 PhD students, reflecting the campus’ continued contribution to building highly skilled professionals and researchers across disciplines. Congratulations to the graduating students, Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani, said, “As our graduates begin their next chapter, I hope they carry forward the spirit of curiosity, integrity and excellence that defines BITS Pilani. The campus they leave behind is also evolving through a curriculum redesign built around flexible, cross-disciplinary electives and expanded minors—because depth in one discipline is no longer enough. The graduates who will matter most are those who can move fluidly across disciplines. That entrepreneurial spirit is already reflected in the numbers: BITSians have founded 140 deep-tech startups, more than alumni of any other Indian institution, ahead of IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi. Building excellence, ensuring equity, and expanding with purpose—that is the vision guiding BITS Pilani, and the same vision I hope our graduates carry into whatever they build next.” Recognising outstanding academic achievement, Mr. Shamit Khetan was awarded the Gold Medal, Ms. Vrishti Deepak Godhwani received the Silver Medal, and Mr. Aditya Ashok Tailor was presented with the Bronze Medal among the First Degree graduates. Among the Higher Degree programmes, Mr. Sumit Sakharam Ghodke and Mr. Rudraksh Alias Bhagwant Mukund Suryarao Sardesai were jointly awarded the Gold Medal, while Mr. Vignesh A and Ms. Neelima M shared the Silver Medal. Addressing the graduating class, Distinguished Alumnus and MapmyIndia Co-Founder & CMD, Mr. Rakesh Kumar Verma, said, “I congratulate the graduating class on this occasion. As you step into a world of endless possibilities, remember that your ability to adapt, remain resilient and keep moving forward will matter as much as your technical knowledge. In an age of Artificial Intelligence, use technology as a tool, but never lose sight of human judgment, and curiosity. Build your careers with humility and purpose, and remember that success is not only about what you achieve for yourself, but also about the value you create for others.” The Convocation also celebrated exceptional academic and research excellence through prestigious student awards. The Prof. Suman Kapur Memorial Best Ph.D. Thesis Award 2026 was conferred upon Dr. Madduri Madhuri; Prof. Raghurama Outstanding Student Award 2025–26 was presented to Ms. Aarya Ameet Agavekar, Ms. Himangi Aggarwal, and Mr. Shamit Khetan in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements and overall contributions to the Institute. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Suman Kundu, Director, BITS Pilani Goa Campus, said, “Convocation is not only a celebration of our students’ academic achievements but also a reaffirmation of BITS Pilani’s commitment to nurturing leaders, innovators, and responsible global citizens. The graduating class of 2026 leaves the campus equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values to address complex challenges and create meaningful impact across industries, research, entrepreneurship, and society.” During the academic year, the campus expanded its academic portfolio with a co-tutelage 2+2 undergraduate programme in Computer Science with RMIT University, Australia, introduced two new M.E. programmes in Quantum Science and Technology and Quantum Information Processing, and launched a Minor in Computing and Intelligence, reaffirming its commitment to preparing graduates for emerging technology domains. The Institute also witnessed significant growth in research, securing 91 sponsored projects worth over ₹30.72 crore from government agencies, industry, and international collaborators. Faculty advanced research in areas including green hydrogen, quantum technologies, advanced semiconductor devices, and indigenous navigation systems, while producing 720 research publications supported through extensive national and international collaborations. Along with the new interdisciplinary research centers, the campus has built or expanded advanced AR/VR and Biomedical Engineering laboratories as well as Impact Engineering and Micro-Fabrication laboratories to further fund its research infrastructure, along with a BSL-2 facility for biosciences research. The AICTE IDEA Lab, for which a ₹90 lakh outlay was approved, is likely to encourage innovation, product development and entrepreneurship in students. The Institute has also expanded its global reach, establishing nine new international partnerships with higher education institutions in major European and North American countries that open the way for future joint research projects and student exchange. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering engagement with the local community, educational institutions, industry, and international partners, extending beyond traditional academic boundaries. ( Disclaimer: This report is generated from PRO services. ‘ArdorComm Media’ holds no responsibility for its content. )

The study found that Non-Timber Forest Products support the food security and livelihoods of forest-dependent tribal communities, with surplus produce generating additional household income MEDZIPHEMA, NAGALAND, 10th August 2026: A Nagaland University study has identified 47 Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) across villages in Nagaland and Meghalaya, highlighting the important role of Non-Timber Forest Products in supporting tribal livelihoods, local economies and biodiversity conservation. The study calls for sustainable utilisation and management of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) through ecological assessments and structured harvesting guidelines to ensure these valuable forest resources remain available for future generations. Researchers also highlight the potential of NTFPs to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for marginalized communities in remote forest areas, providing an additional source of income beyond traditional agriculture. A video byte of Prof. Sanjoy Das, Nagaland University, explaining this research can be viewed and downloaded from the following link – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RUxO1zg5qMWrhuPR2UWOz52es0M27c32/view Conducted across 20 villages covering 250 households, the study identified 47 plant- and animal-based NTFPs and assessed their collection, utilisation and economic value. The findings show that forest-dependent tribal communities rely on these resources for household consumption as food, beverages, medicines and other value-added products, while surplus produce is sold in local markets, making NTFPs an important source of livelihood and supplementary household income. The findings were published in Indian Journal of Ecology (https://indianjournals.com/article/ije1-52-2-005?utm), a peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research on ecology, environmental science, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and ecosystem sustainability. The Paper was co-authored by Mr. LimasunepOzukum, Prof. Sanjoy Das, Prof. Amod Sharma, Prof. R. Nakhro, Prof. N.K. Patra, Prof. Manoj Dutta and M. Jangyukala from School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus. Highlighting the importance of research on topics of relevance to local communities, Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor, Nagaland University, said, “I am delighted that Nagaland University continues to contribute meaningful research addressing the socio-economic and ecological priorities of the North Eastern Region. The identification of the economic value of 47 Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) across Nagaland and Meghalaya is a significant step towards recognizing the immense potential of our forest resources in strengthening rural livelihoods and ensuring food security. I congratulate the research team for this commendable achievement and hope that their findings will contribute to informed policy decisions and the sustainable utilization of our rich natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.’’ A key finding of the study was the scientific identification and classification of 47 Non-Timber Forest Products, most of which are used for nourishment followed by therapeutic purposes. Elaborating on the study, Prof. Sanjoy Das, Department of Agricultural Economics, Nagaland University, said, “Despite India’s rich biodiversity, the economic value of many Non-Timber Forest Products remains inadequately recognised. Through this study, we identified commonly available NTFPs in selected areas of Nagaland and Meghalaya, documented their collection and utilisation patterns, and assessed their economic value, highlighting their importance for rural livelihoods and the need for their sustainable utilisation and management.” The researchers also documented the plant parts that were commonly used, their seasonal availability, the frequency of collection, the average time spent on collection trips and the distance travelled by villagers. Bamboo shoot was the highest return earning NTFPs in Meghalaya while wild black pepper was the most common and highest return earning NTFPs in Nagaland. North East India is home to more than 33% of India’s total flora and supports over 100 indigenous communities that rely on forest products for sustenance and income. Non-Timber Forest Products play an important role in supporting the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities, yet their economic value remains inadequately recognised. Although India is home to about 3,000 NTFP species, only 126 have developed marketability, highlighting the need for their scientific identification and economic valuation. The findings highlight that the value of NTFPs extends beyond market returns to include ecological services, subsistence needs and cultural significance, underscoring their importance to tribal communities. ( Disclaimer: This report is generated from PRO services. ‘ArdorComm Media’ holds no responsibility for its content. )