Hyderabad, July 27: BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, celebrated its 2026 Convocation with great pride and enthusiasm, marking another milestone in the Institute's distinguished legacy of academic excellence, research, innovation, and societal impact. The ceremony brought together graduating students, their families, faculty members, alumni, industry leaders, and distinguished guests to honour the achievements of the Class of 2026.
The Convocation was graced by Mr. Hari Menon, Co-founder of BigBasket, as the Chief Guest. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani, in the presence of Prof. Dharmarajan Sriram, Director In-Charge, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, members of the Board of Governors, the Senate, faculty, staff, alumni, and invited guests.
More than 1,500 degrees were conferred during the ceremony, including over 1,200 First Degree programmes, nearly 200 Higher Degree programmes, and over 100 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees, reflecting the continued growth of BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus as one of India's premier institutions for higher education and research.
Addressing the graduating class, Prof. Dharmarajan Sriram, Director In-Charge, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, congratulated the students on their accomplishments and acknowledged the unwavering support of their parents, faculty, and mentors. He emphasized that a BITS Pilani education extends beyond academic excellence, nurturing graduates who embody integrity, innovation, resilience, and a commitment to creating meaningful impact in society. He encouraged the graduating students to remain lifelong learners, embrace challenges with confidence, pursue excellence with humility, and contribute towards building a more equitable, sustainable, and technologically advanced future.
Addressing the graduating Class of 2026, the Chief Guest Mr Hari Menon, Co-Founder of Big Basket, urged graduates to build their careers on a strong foundation of integrity, hard work, empathy, and humility, emphasising that while knowledge provides direction, experience shapes true learning. He encouraged them to embrace challenges, value meaningful relationships, and remember that lasting success is built on character, continuous learning, and the courage to grow from mistakes.
Recognizing exceptional academic achievement, Mr. Archith Casheekar received the Gold Medal, Mr. Alok Desai was awarded the Silver Medal, and Ms. Shreya Kunjankumar Mehta received the Bronze Medal among the First Degree graduates.
Among the Higher Degree programmes, Ms. Fahma Khadeeja, Mr. Kota Rohith Raj, and Mr. Kasala Nidheesh were awarded Gold Medals, while Ms. Harichithra C received the Silver Medal.
The Convocation also recognized outstanding doctoral research. The Prof. Suman Kapur Memorial Best Ph.D. Thesis Award – 2025 in Biological Sciences was conferred upon Mr. Velmurugan K under the supervision of Prof. Nirmal Jayabalan. In addition, the Institute honoured excellence in doctoral research across broad disciplinary areas through the Best Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Awards. The awardees included Mr. Velmurugan K, Mr. Ronanki Suresh under the supervision of Prof Santanu Prasad Dutta , and Mr. Shovon Sengupta under the supervision of Prof Sunny Kumar Singh.
The graduating class leaves BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus at a time when the Institute continues to strengthen its position as a national leader in education, research, and innovation. During the 2025–26 academic year, the campus secured 116 new sponsored research projects worth ₹37.90 crore, while faculty members published 1,968 research papers, underscoring the Institute's growing research footprint across science, engineering, and interdisciplinary domains.
The campus also witnessed significant achievements in innovation and entrepreneurship. Students and faculty continued to excel through nationally and internationally recognized initiatives led by the Institution's Innovation Council, Technology Business Incubator , Center for Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technologies, Center for Research Excellence in National Security , and other centers of excellence. Student-led startups, hackathon victories, global engineering competitions, and deep-tech innovation further reinforced the entrepreneurial culture that defines BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus.
The Practice School program, a hallmark of BITS Pilani's academic model, continued to provide students with immersive industry experience through partnerships with hundreds of organizations across India and abroad. The placement season also reflected strong recruiter confidence, with more than 750 students already placed and a current median annual compensation of ₹20 lakh, as leading organizations across technology, semiconductor, finance, consulting, and core engineering sectors recruited graduates from BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus.
As the graduates embark on the next chapter of their professional and personal journeys, the Convocation celebrates not only academic accomplishment but also the values that define a BITSian—intellectual curiosity, innovation, leadership, integrity, and a commitment to creating positive societal impact.
Congratulating the graduating class, the Institute reaffirmed its confidence that the Class of 2026 will continue to uphold the rich legacy of BITS Pilani while making meaningful contributions across academia, industry, entrepreneurship, public service, and research worldwide.