Odisha witnessed a proud moment as NIT Rourkela awarded its prestigious Dr Bansidhar Panda Gold Medal for 2026 to Manas Nayak. He emerged as the topper of the B.Tech programme in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. NITI Aayog member Prof Abhay Karandikar graced the 24th Annual Convocation as the Chief Guest to present this honour on September 12. Instituted in 2019, this endowment rewards outstanding engineering students while honouring IMFA founder Dr Bansidhar Panda. Dr Panda dedicated his life to advancing technical education across Odisha, heavily influencing the metallurgical landscape of the state. Earning degrees from Harvard University and Michigan Technological University, he brought global industrial insights back to his home region. He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Governors at NIT Rourkela from 2002 to 2007. Recognizing these immense contributions, the institute awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2015. Congratulating the young achiever, IMFA Chief Human Resources Officer Sanjaya Kumar Satapathy shared his thoughts. He noted that this medal recognizes academic brilliance in materials engineering while encouraging young professionals to build purposeful careers. Satapathy highlighted the deeply valued association between IMFA and NIT Rourkela, wishing Nayak great success ahead.
NIT Rourkela awards Dr Bansidhar Panda Gold Medal to Manas Nayak
