Satyaprakash Rout

Bhubaneswar

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy to share that KIIT has been placed in the 501–550 band of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, announced at the World Academic Summit in Cape Town. We are now 4th in India, up from 5th last year, and remain No. 1 in Eastern India among all private and government universities.

KIIT is only 29 years old as an institution, since 1997, and 22 years old as a Deemed to be University, since 2004. For a young university from Odisha, this position among 2,297 universities from 118 countries is a matter of pride for all of us. It reminds me that slow and steady wins the race.

I thank our teachers, researchers, staff, students and alumni for all the work they have put in over the years. This happiness belongs to every one of them.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Another medal for India and another moment of happiness for our KIIT & KISS family!

My lovable KIITian Baranica Elangovan has won the Bronze Medal in the Women’s Pole Vault at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, clearing 4.15m. This is India’s first-ever pole vault medal in the history of the Asian Games, making her achievement very special.

After breaking the national record twice earlier this year, Baranica has now created history for the country. Heartiest congratulations to her!

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

A proud day for India and for my lovable KIITians at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

Our KIITian Seema Kumari has won the Bronze Medal for India in the Women’s 10,000m Race, clocking 32:50.05. India has also won the Silver Medal in the 4x400m Mixed Relay with a timing of 3:14.46. I am especially happy that five members of the Indian relay team—M. R. Poovamma, Vishal T. K., Vithya R., Jay Kumar and Kiran—are our KIITians.

My heartiest congratulations to all the medal winners, their coaches and support teams. With 54 KIIT student-athletes representing India at the Games, several more events are still to come.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Another honour that gives me much happiness. Humbled to receive the ‘Education Philanthropic Award’ from FIDE, the International Chess Federation, at its Summit on Chess in Education in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 24 September 2026, with participants from over 120 member countries. The summit was held alongside the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad and Congress. My Dear Aditya received the award on my behalf.

I am also happy that FIDE, KIIT and KISS have signed an MoU to expand our Chess in Education initiatives. This follows the FIDE Global Conference on Chess in Society and Education, which we co-hosted at KIIT in January, and the teacher preparation programme held at KISS in August.

I have always wanted our children to have every opportunity to learn and grow through education and sports. This collaboration will help more of my lovable KIITians and KISSians learn and enjoy chess.

My sincere thanks to Interim President Mr Viswanathan Anand, Acting Chair Ms Dana Reizniece-Ozola and the entire FIDE family for this honour and for supporting our efforts to bring chess to more children.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

A very proud moment for our KIIT & KISS family as 54 of our student-athletes will represent India at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Japan.

From 14 athletes at the last Asian Games in Hangzhou to 54 this time, this journey makes me very happy. Our KIITians and KISSians will represent the country across seven sports, with 45 athletes in Athletics alone.

I am especially happy that Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who won Gold for India at the previous Asian Games, has been chosen as one of India’s flagbearers for the Opening Ceremony. Along with him, many of our experienced and young athletes will once again carry the hopes of the nation.

It also gives me great joy to see nine athletes from Odisha, including young talents from our tribal communities, being part of the Indian contingent.

For many years, we have tried our best at KIIT & KISS to give our sportspersons the facilities, coaching and support they need to fulfil their dreams. Seeing 54 of them wearing the India jersey at one Asian Games is very special for me.

My best wishes to all our athletes. Give your best for India and make the country proud.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy and honoured to welcome Padma Bhushan Param Pujya Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji to our KIIT & KISS campuses today.

Didi Maa spent a good amount of time at KISS, went around the campus, saw the facilities and interacted with our lovable KISSians. She told us that she had heard about KISS earlier, but seeing the work with her own eyes and at such a large scale made her very happy and surprised.

Her words touched me deeply because Didi Maa herself has been doing wonderful work for children, women and society through Vatsalyagram for many years.

When someone who has devoted her own life to service appreciates our small effort at KISS, it gives me great encouragement.

My sincere respect and gratitude to Param Pujya Didi Maa Ji for her blessings, kind words and affection for our children.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy to welcome Mr Manish Tiwary, Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India Limited, to our KIIT & KISS campuses today. He brings nearly three decades of leadership experience across Nestlé, Amazon India and Unilever.

I was happy that he could visit both campuses and see closely the work being done here. His kind appreciation for our efforts, especially the journey of KISS and its work for tribal children through education, was very encouraging for me.

My sincere thanks to Mr Tiwary for taking the time to be with us and for his warm words. It was a pleasure to have him at KIIT & KISS.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Happy to welcome Dr Lobsang Sangay, faculty member at Harvard Law School, to our KIIT & KISS campuses today.

He addressed the students of KIIT School of Law on the important theme “Law, Ethics and Political Leadership”. For our young law students, such interactions are very meaningful, as they get an opportunity to learn from people who have experienced law, leadership and public life closely.

I was also happy that Dr Sangay could spend time at KIIT & KISS and interact with our students. His visit and words of encouragement made the occasion very special for us.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy and proud that four of my lovable KISSians have been selected to represent India at the Asia Rugby Emirates U-18 Sevens 2026 in Qingdao, China.

For young players, an opportunity like this can become a turning point in life. I know how much discipline, hard work and patience goes behind reaching this stage. I wish all four of them a wonderful tournament. Enjoy the game, play your natural game and return with good memories and greater confidence.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy to meet some of my lovable KISSian alumni who have made their mark in sports, as they came to greet me on National Sports Day.

Many of them came to KISS as young children and, with education, training and hard work, went on to represent Odisha and India at different levels.

For me, there can be no greater happiness than seeing my KISSians grow, achieve and build their own identity through sports.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

On National Sports Day, I feel very happy to share a glimpse of the sporting journey of KIIT & KISS.

Sports have always been very close to my heart. Over the years, we have tried to give our students the best facilities, training, encouragement and opportunities so that talent never goes unnoticed.

Today, seeing our KIITians and KISSians represent Odisha and India at national and international platforms gives me immense satisfaction. From our young tribal sportspersons to our international athletes, every achievement makes the entire KIIT & KISS family proud.

We will continue to promote sports and support every young talent who dreams of achieving something for the country.

My best wishes to all our sportspersons and coaches on National Sports Day.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Coconut has always been very close to my heart. I was born and brought up with coconut as a part of my everyday life, and even today, I remain very fond of coconut, coconut water and different coconut products.

When my father passed away, I was only four years old. Among the few things he left behind for our family were 30–40 coconut trees. In those difficult days, these trees became a great support for us. We sold coconuts and brooms made from coconut leaves to manage our household expenses and support the education and other needs of our eight-member family. During cyclones, when we sometimes had hardly anything to eat, the fallen coconuts also became our food.

So, for me, coconut is not just a fruit or a tree. It is connected with my childhood, my struggle and my survival. Even today, I love consuming coconut and coconut water and continue to use coconut products in my daily life. Perhaps that childhood connection has remained with me all these years.

On World Coconut Day, my respect and good wishes to all coconut farmers and everyone whose life and livelihood are connected with this wonderful tree.

Happy World Coconut Day!

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

We were honoured to welcome Smt. Vijaya K. Rahatkar, Hon’ble Chairperson, National Commission for Women, to our KIIT & KISS campuses today.

She spent time at KISS, visited different facilities and interacted closely with our lovable KISSians. I was especially happy to see her engaging with our girl students, listening to them with affection and encouraging them to dream big and move ahead with confidence.

Her appreciation for KISS and for the confidence and aspirations of our children meant a lot to us.

I am grateful to Smt. Rahatkar Ji for her visit, her kind words and the affection she showed towards our children.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Happy to be in Ranchi, Jharkhand today for a large public meeting focused on tribal empowerment, sports and social development.

The gathering was graced by Shri Subodh Kant Sahay, former Union Minister, Government of India, and Smt. Mohua Majhi, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha.

I was also happy to share the philosophy of my life, Art of Giving -sharing, caring and giving back to society.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Today, 40,000 tribal children of KISS, Bhubaneswar, are feeling very proud and happy to know that Ms Nikita Porwal, Miss World India, while representing our country on the Miss World stage, has spoken about KISS before the world.

Ms Porwal had spent a few days with my lovable KISSians. She stayed with them, interacted with them and saw closely the reality from which many of these children have come, as well as the dreams they carry in their hearts.

Prayers and best wishes from all 40,000 children of KISS to Ms Porwal for her success on the world stage. May she make India proud.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

My lovable KISSians came together and cheered her on, sending their prayers, love and best wishes to Ms Nikita Porwal, Miss World India, who is presently in Vietnam representing our country at the ongoing 75th Anniversary Edition of Miss World.

Nikita has a special connection with KISS. She spent time with our children, understood their lives closely and carried their story with her to the world stage.

Today, these tribal children have only one wish for her —do your best and bring the crown home for India.

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Khelo India has become a wonderful platform for nurturing sporting talent across the country. It is providing young athletes with opportunities and support to pursue their dreams.

@kheloindia
https://t.co/hj8qEJRj09

[KIMS Hospital & College @KIMSBBSR]

Our multidisciplinary team at KIMS Bhubaneswar successfully treated the patient, who arrived with a rapidly expanding neck swelling that severely affected his breathing and swallowing. Advanced surgical expertise, critical anaesthesia management, heart-lung machine support, and coordinated teamwork helped us repair the leaking artery and save his life.

After a successful complex emergency surgery, our 21-year-old patient has recovered well and returned to normal life.

This successful outcome reflects our commitment to delivering advanced, timely, and lifesaving care when it matters most.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Chess can be much more than a sport. It can be a beautiful tool for learning, thinking and shaping young minds.

I am happy that the FIDE–KISS Chess in Education Teacher Preparation Programme, sponsored by the International Olympic Committee, was successfully organised at KISS from 18–22 August 2026. Thirty teachers from our primary and secondary schools participated in this special training programme.

The programme helped our teachers understand how chess can be used inside the classroom to improve concentration, critical thinking, creativity, decision-making, patience and collaborative learning among children.

My sincere thanks to the leadership of FIDE and IOC for their support and for taking this important initiative forward with KISS. We are also keen to explore how Chess in Education can be developed further as a credit-based course, creating more opportunities for our students and teachers.