A topper receiving medal and certificate from dignitaries during the eighth annual convocation of IIIT-Dharwad in Dharwad on Saturday.

| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food, Public Distribution, New and Renewable Energy Resources Pralhad Joshi has called on the students to keep reminding themselves of their responsibility towards contributing to the nation’s progress.He was speaking at the eighth annual convocation of Indian Institute of Information Technology in Dharwad on Saturday.He said that the country had already demonstrated its technical prowess in multiple spheres like space and vaccines, and it was now upon the fresh graduates to carry this legacy forward. He expressed confidence that with the pool of technical talent available in the country and excellent grooming by institutions like IIIT Dharwad, achieving the target of Vikasit Bharat in 2047 would not be difficult.Delivering the convocation address, Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi, sought to draw attention to the significant technological progress in India in the past few decades by comparing activities like bank transactions, ticket bookings, shopping, etc.He said that the progress was possible due to the intellectual capabilities of youths and urged the young graduates to plan their careers in alignment with the nation’s growth.The Chairman, Board of Governors, IIIT Dharwad, Ashri Jalaj Dani, pointed to the graduates that they were stepping out into the world and were expected to make history through their efforts.Director of the IIIT-Dharwad Mahadev Prasanna presented a comprehensive report about the institute. Members of the Board of Governors, Senate members of the institute were present.A total of 253 graduates and two postgraduates received their degrees and six medals and awards were presented to toppers.Medal winnersPresident of India Gold Medal: Shiva Shankar B.; Institute Gold Medal-ECE: Shiva Shankar B.; Institute Gold Medal- DSAI: Aditya Raj; Institute Gold Medal- CSE: Srijan Shukla; Director’s Medal: Aditya Raj; Best Outgoing Girl Student Award: Shete Rinchal Sachin. Published - May 30, 2026 08:30 pm IST