Events
International Yoga Day Observed At SOA
Students and faculty members of the SOA Deemed to be University here took part in various ‘yogasana’ and ‘pranayam’ postures at the university stadium here to mark the 12th International Day of Yoga on Sunday.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, SOA’s Principal Advisor (Health Sciences) and eminent neurosurgeon, outlined the ill-effects of changing lifestyle of the youth while explaining how the practice of Yoga could impact and transform their physical, mental, social and spiritual health.
The theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga was ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’.
Prof. Nachieketa K. Sharma, Director, International Relations and University Outreach Program, SOA, Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) and Dr. Kamal Lochan Mahanta, the university’s NSS Program Coordinator, also attended the program.
M. Akhil Chandra Rana, Yoga Teacher, assisted by a group of Yoga Instructors, helped the participants to go through various Yoga postures. Dr. Saroj Kumar Mohanty, Dr. Nitish Kumar Jena, Dr. Manas Kumar Patel, Dr. Bhimasen Bhol, Dr. Kanaklata Ojha, Ms. Padmaja Patel and other faculty members were also present.
International Nurses Day Observed at SOA
Nurses remain beside human beings from the moment of birth until the last breath of life, said Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi while addressing an event organized on the occasion of International Nurses Day at the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) and SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar today.
Speaking as the chief guest at the programme organized by the Nursing Department of IMS and SUM Hospital, Sarangi described nurses as “silent warriors” who continue to serve tirelessly during every crisis, including cyclones and the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said nurses symbolize hope and compassion and that nursing is one of the noblest professions in society.
Referring to Florence Nightingale, whose birth anniversary is observed worldwide as International Nurses Day, Sarangi said that Nightingale continues to inspire generations of nursing students and professionals through her dedication and service to humanity.
Speaking on this year’s International Nurses Day theme “Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” the MP stressed the need to empower nurses so they can effectively save lives and provide better healthcare services.
She urged nurses to continue serving society with dedication, empathy, and a spirit of care.
Sarangi also praised the patient care services of IMS and SUM Hospital, stating that since 2005 the institution has played a leading role not only in Bhubaneswar and Odisha but across India in the field of healthcare services.
On the occasion, SOA Founder President Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak met MP Aparajita Sarangi in a courtesy meeting.
Among the distinguished guests at the programme was Lakshmipriya Mishra, Registrar of the Odisha Nurses and Midwives Registration Council, who said nurses act as a bridge between patient care and recovery.
She highlighted the hard work nurses perform even in adverse situations and emphasized the need for their empowerment.
Professor Prabhati Tripathy, Director of SUM Nursing College, said nurses continue to perform their duties sincerely despite physical exhaustion and mental stress, ensuring quality healthcare services for patients.
Professor Pushparaj Samantsinghar, Medical Superintendent of IMS and SUM Hospital, extended greetings on International Nurses Day and acknowledged the vital contribution of nurses to the hospital’s success.
He said nurses serve patients round the clock with kindness, empathy, and a smiling face.
During the programme, Nursing Superintendent Minati Mishra delivered the welcome address, while Deputy Nursing Superintendent Kalpalata Das proposed the vote of thanks.
Deputy Nursing Superintendent Swayamprabha Panda administered the Florence Nightingale pledge to nursing professionals present at the event. A cake-cutting ceremony was also organized in the presence of MP Aparajita Sarangi to mark the celebration of International Nurses Day.
Odisha Higher Education Leaders Discuss Global Excellence at Times Higher Education (THE) Odisha Regional Conclave.
Vice-Chancellors, administrators and academics from 37 different universities and institutions in Odisha exchanged ideas about ways to improve higher education so as to be noticed globally at a day-long conclave organised by the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) and hosted by the SOA Deemed to be University here on Friday.
Speakers who addressed the Times Higher Education (THE) Odisha Regional Conclave stressed on the need for building up a culture to excel in academics and research so as to shine on the global stage.
Prof. Amiya Kumar Rath, Vice-Chancellor of BPUT, said that the focus should be on quality and representatives of different universities had been invited to the event to know what was needed to be counted as a top-notch institution.
Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA and Prof. Bibhuti Bhushan Biswal, Vice-Chancellor of Odisha University of Technology and Research (OUTR) also addressed the conclave. Prof. Nanda said there had been a paradigm shift in university education because of technological advances and the challenges being encountered. Universities are not stand alone entities and should connect with the society, he said.
Prof. Biswal said that rankings like THE and QS were important to focus the institute outside the country.
Mr. Ritin Malhotra, General Manager and Senior Regional Director (Asia), THE, spoke on the global perspectives on evaluating excellence in academic and research parameters.
Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) proposed the vote of thanks.
The conclave had two different sessions and a panel discussion on international collaborations and exploring the potential partnership in the field of quality education, technology and research exchange with the world’s top universities and fraternity.
Prof. Satya Narayan Acharya, Vice-Chancellor of Odia University, Prof. Kumarbar Das, former Vice-Chancellor, Central University, Jharkhand and Prof. Bibhu Prasad Panigrahi, Director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology, Sarang, also attended the event.
3-Day Techno-Cultural Fest ‘Chakravyuh’ And ‘Genesis’ Held At ITER
The sprawling campus of the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), faculty of engineering of SOA Deemed to be University here, throbbed with music and the rhythm of dancing feet as the three-day techno-cultural fest-- ‘Chakravyuh’ and ‘Genesis’ held at the Engineering Campus. The 3-day event kicked-off on 3rd of April amalgamating innovation, creativity and cultural excellence.
The festival was formally inaugurated by SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, who attended the event as the chief guest. Addressing students, he highlighted ITER’s remarkable achievement in being ranked 22nd among engineering institutions in India in the NIRF Rankings of 2025. He urged students to take pride in being part of the institution and strive to build a global identity for themselves and ITER.
The festival will feature a series of technical competitions and cultural performances by renowned artists. Adding a special touch to the inaugural event, students and slum children supported by them through the ‘Jaggo’ initiative presented captivating dance performances.
SOA Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Prashant Kumar Patra encouraged the students to equip themselves with evolving knowledge and skill to excel in a competitive world.
Speaking on the occasion, ITER Dean Prof. Pradeep Kumar Sahu emphasized the institute’s strong focus on research and technological advancement. Prof. Manas Kumar Mallick, Director of ITER, noted that the institution had grown into a leading educational hub over the past 25 years supported by active student clubs and initiatives such as NCC, NSS and the Atal Incubation Center-SOA Foundation.
Prof. Renu Sharma, Additional Dean (Student Affairs), delivered the welcome address followed by remarks by Chief Warden Prof. Ranjan Kumar Mallick. The vote of thanks was delivered by Additional Warden Prof. Debahuti Mishra.
In the 2nd day of the fest on 4th of April the bollywood singer Antara Mitra mesmerized the ITER students with her lively musical performance. Similarily on 5th of April on the last day of the fest music turned into energy. The students felt the rhythm with the unforgettable musical band of Bullet & Bohemians.
SOA Hosts HR Conclave Proxima-2026
‘SOA Proxima’, a three-day annual talent engagement event of the university concluded recently. In the event the Famous Motivational Speaker, Monk Gaur Gopal Das graced the occasion as the Chief guest where he seamlessly mingling with the teeming students, explained that colourful balloons didn’t soar into the sky because of their dazzling shades. They fly in the sky because of the gas inside them, he pointed out.
“Skill is critically important but unless you have the mindset you will not succeed”, Das said .
SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda welcomed and introduced the speaker. Mr. Ripti Ranjan Das, Director (Corporate Affairs and Industry Connect) also spoke.
In a program titled ‘Celebration of Excellence’ held subsequently, corporate leaders attending the event were presented with awards. Dr. Debahuti Mishra, Professor and Head of Department of Computer Science Engineering of SOA’s faculty of engineering and technology, proposed the vote of thanks. More than 150 HR professionals of top notch organisations joined the event and shared their experiences with the students. As the famous Singer Arjun kanongo performed at the 2nd day of the event the students enjoyed a lot.
AI Has The Potential To Transform Modern Agriculture: Experts
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform modern agriculture but its success depended strongly on robust data foundations, experts said at a two-day international symposium organised at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) here which concluded on Wednesday.
Various data sources are required for AI-driven agricultural systems, such as weather and climate records, remote sensing data, soil properties, farm observations and sensor-based monitoring systems, they said.
The symposium on ‘Artificial Intelligence in Shaping Agriculture and Allied Sectors for Sustainable Food Security’ was jointly organized by SOA’s Centre for Climate Smart Agriculture (CCSA), SOA’s faculty of Agricultural Sciences and the AIC-SOA Foundation.
The event, which was attended by 150 participants including from IIT Bhubaneswar, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar, ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack and Indian Horticultural Research Institute, Bengaluru, focused on AI-driven innovations such as precision farming, crop and soil health monitoring, pest and disease forecasting, smart irrigation, yield prediction and digital advisory services.
Prof. Chittaranjan Ray, Director of the Nebraska Water Center, USA, Mr. Robert B. Daugherty of Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Prof. Binayak P. Mohanty, Regents Professor and COALS Chair, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, Texas A and M University, USA and Dr. Jude Cobbing, Senior Program Manager, University of Nebraska were among the distinguished resource persons at the symposium.
Prof. Ray discussed the inter-linkage between water resources, food security and emerging global challenges, particularly in the face of rapid population growth and shifting food demand. He pointed out that Africa’s demographic contribution to the global population was expected to rise significantly influencing future food systems, dietary patterns and regional crop production strategies.
“The deliberations by the acclaimed international and Indian experts will certainly improve the current level of understanding on smart farming for efficient use of critical resources such as water, nutrients and energy through real-time data-driven decision support systems particularly under the climate variability scenario,” Prof. Rabindra Kumar Panda, Director of CCSA, said.
This would be of enormous value, particularly for the farmers of Odisha who have little access to the modern technological interventions to enhance productivity and production, he said.
Prof. Mohanty, who spoke on the subject ‘Climate Smart Decision Making in Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities using AI’, discussed the growing challenges posed by climate variability and extreme weather events which significantly affected crop productivity and water resources. He highlighted how AI and data-driven approaches could integrate information from climate data, soil moisture, crop growth models and remote sensing observations to support climate-smart agricultural decision making.
Dr. Cobbing, who focused on demography, agricultural challenges and water scarcity in Africa, India and the USA, said South Asia had one of the largest irrigated agricultural areas playing a crucial role in regional food security. He compared AI-enabled development and energy status across the three continents emphasizing the differences in technological and infrastructural capacity.
He said it was time to move beyond colonial stereotypes to address agricultural and water challenges through reconciliation, knowledge sharing and responsible AI use.
Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA, who presided over the inaugural session on Tuesday, described the organization of the symposium on use of AI for the benefit of farmers as timely and contemporary under the present context. He said that AI-driven decision support system could be successfully used to address issues faced by the farmers.
The other speakers included Dr. Alakananda Mitra, Research Assistant Professor, Nebraska Water Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, Dr. S.K.Routray, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneswar and Prof. Basudev Behera, Professor and Head of Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SOA.
The key organizers of the symposium, besides Prof. Panda, included Prof. Santosh Kumar Rout, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Co-Chairman, and Dr. Anshuman Jena and Dr. Subhaprada Dash, both Associate Professors of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences who were the Convenors of the event.
Enter The Field Of Law To Ensure Prevalence Of Justice At All Cost: Justice Raman Tells Students
Students of law intending to embrace the legal profession should enter the field with the motto that justice must prevail at all cost, Mr. Justice Murahari Sri Raman, Judge of the High Court of Orissa, said on Saturday.
“A lawyer has to become part of the justice delivery system and be fearless and independent in thought as the people repose immense faith in the judiciary”, Justice Raman said while addressing students of the SOA Deemed to be University here.
Addressing the gathering of students and teachers drawn from SOA’s faculty of legal studies and agricultural sciences as part of the SOA Lecture Series, he described the legal profession as ‘very interesting and challenging’.
“You have to be truthful, have to stick to the relevant facts and exercise your rational thought while being part of the service oriented noble profession”, he said.
Once a student entered the legal profession, he has to be very serious and continuously delve into the provisions of law as there is no substitute to relentless study, Justice Raman said adding everyone needed some understanding of law.
“A scholar of law continues to be a student of the subject all his life till the very end”, he said.
Justice Raman said lawyers arguing cases in the court should ensure that their pleadings were clear and unambiguous so that they could be taken into account. “It is because the law cannot be discussed in a vacuum and all basic features of law should be included during the pleading”, he pointed out.
Referring to the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in different spheres including the legal profession, the judge advised the students to use AI only for assistance. “You have to apply your mind, otherwise it can lead to catastrophic results”, he warned.
Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray, Pro-Vice Chancellor of SOA, presided over the event while Prof. Madhusudan Das, Senior Professor at the SOA National Institute of Law (SNIL), SOA’s faculty of legal studies, introduced the speaker. Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, the university’s Dean (Students’ Welfare), conducted the proceedings.
Children Battling Malignancy Spread Cheer On World Cancer Day
Tiny tots sporting beatific smiles walked on the ramp spreading cheer in a hall full of cancer patients and survivors to mark the World Cancer Day at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital here on Tuesday.
All the children were cancer patients as well battling leukemia but escorted by medical students they glowed on the stage as the audience cheered.
“You are the real superstars, fighters,” extolled Varsha Priyadarshini, eminent Ollywood star and social worker, who was the chief guest on the occasion.
The children also presented dance performances including an Odissi recital.
“I am fortunate that I could meet you, I am touched by your innocent smile,” she said adding the fashion show by the children taught much about life.
The program, an annual event, was organised by the hospital’s Department of Oncosciences with the theme for this year being ‘United by Unique’. It was attended by more than 800 cancer patients either undergoing treatment or those who had defeated the disease after being treated in the hospital run by Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA).
Prof. (Dr.) Pusparaj Samantasinhar, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, described the patients battling the disease as icons while pointing out that the hospital was providing complete cancer care from diagnosis to treatment with the departments of Onco-Surgery, Onco-Medicine and Hematology extending the needed facilities.
Prof. (Dr.) Soumya Ranjan Das, acting Dean of the teaching hospital, said around 15 to 20 lakh people in India get affected by cancer every year as it is a huge problem. “Prevention, early detection, efficient treatment and rehabilitation are the key to battle the disease,” he said adding people should avoid cancer causing food.
Prof. (Dr.) Neeta Mohanty, Professor in the Institute of Dental Sciences (IDS), SOA’s faculty of dental sciences, described the program as a ‘celebration of life’ while mentioning about availability of new diagnostic techniques which would help in battling cancer.
Pointing out that the oral cavity was the most accessible part of the human body, she said many people suffer from oral cancer because of their habits of chewing pan and gutka.
The pre-cancer signs are to be diagnosed early, she said adding 95 per cent of cancer was caused by habits and the environment.
Dr. Soumya Surath Panda, head of the department of Onco Medicine, Anshuman Nayak, eminent Ollywood playback singer and Dr. Saroj Prasad Panda, head of the Pediatric Oncology department also addressed the gathering.
Dr. Sunil Agrawal, head of the department of Onco Surgery, said a person’s ‘belief system’ played a big role in the battle against cancer. “It enabled us to come out with the Covid vaccine,” he said adding a person fighting the disease should never ask the question as to why he got the disease when others were healthy.
He gave the example of athlete Deepa Malik, who despite being afflicted with cancer, went on to win the silver medal in the Paralympics in the shot put event in 2016.
77th Republic Day Celebrated At SOA University
A spectacular marchpast by students and mesmerizing enactment of plays focussing on social issues marked the 77th Republic Day celebration at the Siksha 'O' Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) here on Monday.
The Chancellor of SOA, Prof. (Dr.) Amit Banerjee unfurled the national flag and took the salute in the ceremonial parade in which NCC cadets, NSS volunteers and students of different institutes of the university took part.
Addressing the students, faculty members, Deans, Directors and senior officials, Prof. (Dr.) Banerjee said the Republic Day was an occasion to celebrate the constitution and take a pledge for all round development of the nation.
SOA, he said, was playing an important role in this process.
Pointing out that SOA had done well to be ranked high in the list prepared by National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2025, Prof. (Dr.) Banerjee said all must strive to improve SOA's ranking further while continuing to serve the society.
SOA had created a benchmark for itself in healthcare and was doing well in research and innovation, he said adding "our collective goal should be to make India developed".
The Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray, Deans of different institutions, Directors and senior officials were present.
Students of different institutions presented a cultural pageant focussing on thought provoking issues which posed questions before the society.
Mr. Arman Samal, Senior Under Officer, NCC, and Mr. Soumyajit Behera, Junior Under Officer, NCC commanded the parade.
The Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS) was adjudged first in the ceremonial parade while Institute of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (IVSAH) and NSS volunteers finished second and third respectively.
Students of the SOA National Institute of Law (SNIL) won the first prize for their presentation in the cultural program while students of SUM Nursing College were placed second.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nanda unfurled the tricolour at a separate function held in the university office.
Researchers From South East Asian Countries Attend Seminar On Latest Developments In Transdermal Care At SOA
Researchers, clinicians and industry experts from several South East Asian countries came together to discuss cutting-edge developments in smart biomaterials, nanotechnology and digital sensing for transdermal therapeutics and advanced wound management at a day-long seminar held at the SOA Deemed to be University here on Wednesday.
The Indo-ASEAN International Seminar (IAIS-2026), which focused on the theme ‘Engineering the Next Generation of Transdermal Care’, was organised by the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPS), SOA’s faculty of pharmaceutical sciences.
The discussion centered on smart transdermal systems which have marked a major advancement in modern healthcare. “Today, we are moving beyond traditional wound dressing and simple drug delivery methods toward intelligent, responsive and multifunctional biomaterials,” Prof. A. Bose, Convenor of the event, said.
These advanced systems support faster wound healing, better infection control, reduced inflammation and improved pain management by combining treatment with real-time sensing and diagnosis, he said.
Prof. Bose said this integration had given rise to a new class of theranostic transdermal systems. “A key focus of this seminar is the development of intelligent biomaterials designed to respond to changes in the body and deliver drugs in a controlled and timely manner improving treatment accuracy, safety and patient comfort,” he said.
Researchers and technocrats from several ASEAN countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Brunei attended the seminar which was presided over by SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda.
Prof. Santanu Dhara, Professor, School of Medical Science and Technology, IIT Kharagpur, and Dr. Orawan Suwantong, Associate Professor, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand addressed two scientific sessions. While Prof. Dhara spoke on the topic ‘Ethically sources biomaterials through innovative processing for Wound Management’, Dr. Suwantong delivered a lecture on ‘Utilization of biopolymer-based wound dressings incorporated with natural product extracts for diverse wound management.’
Prof. Dhara said medical research and pharmacy were transdisciplinary areas where doctors, engineers and medical scientists have to work together for the good of mankind.
He said scientists came to know about the stem cells only in 1991 while stem cell therapy was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in USA in 2024. India followed suit in 2025, he said adding lots of ideas were getting amalgamated today for better healthcare delivery.
The different sessions were addressed by Dr. Rajan Rajabalaya, Assistant Professor, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Dr. Anju R. Babu, Assistant Professor, NIT Rourkela, Dr. Rehan Khan, Scientist-E, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali and Dr. Siti Efliza Binti Ashari, Associate Professor, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Prof. Debajyoti Das, Dean, SPS, welcomed the speakers and participants while Prof. Anup Samantaray, Pro-Vice Chancellor, SOA, delivered the key note address in the valedictory session. It also featured review remarks by Prof. B.B. Subudhi, Head of Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, SPS while Prof. Goutam Rath, Head of Department, Pharmaceutics, SPS, presented the epilogue.
The scientific sessions were chaired by Dr. Subrata Mallick, Professor, Prof. Snigdha Pattnaik, Head of Department, Industrial Pharmacy, Prof. Pratap Kumar Sahu, Head of Department, Pharmacology, and Prof. P. Sudhir Kumar, Head of Department, Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Prof. Laxmidhar Maharana, Professor, coordinated the seminar.
The successful conduct of the seminar reinforced SOA’s commitment to promoting international academic collaboration and advancing research in transdermal drug delivery and advanced pharmaceutical sciences.
First SOA Flower Festival Inaugurated
Amidst blooming flowers and a sea of colours, the first SOA Flower Festival was inaugurated at the SOA Deemed University here on Monday.
The two-day festival, organised by the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, the university's faculty of agriculture, to coincide with the International Flower Day on January 19, was inaugurated by Ms. Saswati Das, Vice-President of SOA.
The festival's objective was to create awareness among the people about floriculture and encourage farmers, flower traders, students and housewives to take to flower cultivation, Ms. Das said.
Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA, who attended the inaugural program as guest of honour, said the festival would help connoisseurs of flower learn how to grow flowers scientifically.
Floriculturist, entrepreneurs, nurseries and individuals have participated in the flower exhibition and competitions.
The festival has 18 different stalls for live exhibits open to members of public and competitions in 90 different categories.
The second day of the festival will feature a panel discussion on the theme 'Entrepreneurship in Floriculture '.
The discussion will include scientific methods of flower cultivation, the incentives being offered by the government for flower cultivation and support available from banks for such endeavours, Prof. Santosh Kumar Rout, Dean of (IAS) said.
The inaugural program was also attended, among others, by Prof. Manjula Das, Controller of Examination, SOA, Prof. Susanta Kumar Das, Dean, Institute of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Prof. Ruchi Bhuyan, Dean, Institute of Dental Sciences and Prof. Sashikala Beura, Head of Department of Floriculture and Land Scaping at IAS.
AIC-SOA Foundation Conducts Central Zone Odisha AI Symposium-2025
The Odisha AI Hackathon 2025, an integral part of the Odisha AI Symposium-2025, was conducted across the state in four Regional Nodal Centres with AIC-SOA Foundation at the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), SOA Deemed to be University here, hosting the event for central zone.
SOA was designated as the Central Zone Nodal Centre and entrusted with hosting and coordinating the regional hackathon activities for the seven districts of Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Nayagarh.
As part of the initiative, offering of concepts closed on December 5 with 107 ideas submitted while the online concept evaluation round was held on December 7 where 48 shortlisted teams presented their proposals virtually.
Based on merit and innovation, 16 teams were selected for the prototype stage. The prototype demonstration round for Central Zone was held on December 10 at AIC-SOA Foundation with the jury members being Dr. Sheetal Prusty of Software Technology Park of India (STPI), Mr. Sameer Patro of Microsoft India Private Ltd, Dr. Kaliprasanna Swain and Dr. Sakuntala Mohapatra, both of Trident Academy of Technology, Bhubanesar.
The jury members engaged with participants and selected the top three teams for advancement to the Odisha AI Symposium.
The selected teams will now present their refined innovations at the Odisha AI Symposium on December 18 joining the winners from the other three Regional Nodal Centres for state level recognition and additional awards.
The hackathon, conducted under the patronage of the Odisha Society of Americas (OSA) and Odisha AI, aligns with the Odisha AI Policy, Odisha Vision and India AI Mission. It aims to strengthen AI awareness, foster student and startup-led innovation and address real world challenges through AI driven solutions across diverse sectors.
In the central zone competition, Team Plasticure, which presented a project on development of Super Clean Post-consumer Recycled (PCR) plastic via AI and Solvent-Assisted Advanced Recycling Technique for Food Grade Application won the first prize of Rs. 12,000. The team members comprised Dr. Jyoti Agarwal, Mr. Aman Patra and Ms. Samhita Sukanya.
Team G1 won the second prize of Rs. 8,000 presenting a project on AI-enabled ‘Not Safe for Work’ content identification for safe internet for kids. Its members were Ms. Bhagyashri Valecha, Mr. Uday Garg, Ms. Mili Gupta and Mr. Manish Kumar Tiruwar.
Smart Bloom won the third prize f Rs. 5000 for its project, IoT-driven Automated Pollination System for Vertical Farming. Its members were Mr. Ankit Kumar and Mr. Avinash Kumar.
The winning teams will receive continued mentoring to prepare for their presentations at the Odisha AI Symposium. AI researchers, practitioners, students and technology enthusiasts are invited to attend the India AI Symposium and witness the finalist teams present their cutting -edge AI innovations. Registration can be made at https://odishaaisummit.org/symposium.
India’s Bioeconomy to reach 300 billion dollars by 2030
India’s bioeconomy, which includes biotech, pharma and agriculture, officially valued at 165 billion dollars in 2024, was expected to reach 300 billion dollars by 2030, Prof. Sudhir Kumar Sopory, President of the Biotech Research Society, India (BRSI), said on Monday.
The government had launched Biopharma Mission at the national level while other programs included Bio AI Hubs, Bioagriculture and Bioenergy, Prof. Sopory said while addressing the inaugural session of the three-day International Conference on ‘Biotechnology for Sustainable Development and Circular Economy’ at the SOA Deemed to be University here.
The National Biopharma Mission is an industry-academia collaborative mission for accelerating biopharmaceutical development in the country under which the government has launched programs to create an enabling ecosystem to promote entrepreneurship and indigenous manufacturing.
The conference, which is being attended by 40 eminent scientists from 28 different countries has been organised by the Centre for Industrial Biotechnology Research (CIBR) of SOA in collaboration with the BRSI.
Prof. Ashish Ghosh, Director of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Bhubaneswar, who graced the program as the chief guest, focused on the use of biotech for the betterment of human society.
“Whatever has happened is for transformation which has been a big boost for improving the quality of human life and most of these transformation has come from the biotech sector,” he said while pointing out that most of the vaccines invented so far have been biotech products including the vaccine against the Covid-19 infection.
The conference, he hoped, would serve as a platform for intense discussion on how to use biotech for the good of humanity.
The International Bio-processing Association (IBA) awards were presented to Prof. A.A. Koutinas of University of Patras, Greece, and Prof. Suzana Ferreira Dias of University of Agriculture, Lisbon, Portugal. Prof. Koutinas was honoured for his work in the field of Food Biotechnology while Prof. Dias was given the award for her research in the field of Food Engineering.
The session was also addressed by Dr. Binod Parameswaran, COE, BRSI, Prof. Marina Tisma of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University, Croatia and Prof. Christian Larroche of Universite Clermont Auvergne, Clermont Ferrand, France. Prof. Prashanta Kumar Patra, Pro-Vice Chancellor, SOA, presided over the program which was also addressed by Prof. Hrudayanath Thatoi, Director, CIBR and Conference Chair.
Prof. Sasmita Mohanty, Convenor of the conference, introduced the guests while Dr. Amrita Banerjee, Convenor of the event, proposed the vote of thanks.
3rd SOA Literary Festival begins, Javed Akhtar honoured with 1st SOA Sahitya Samman
The 3rd edition of SOA Literary Festival kicked off on Saturday with Odisha governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati asserting that though technology had been expanding and reshaping human relationship, it could not replace the depth of human experience.
“At present, Artificial Intelligence has been reshaping communication, creativity and even human relationship, but the future influenced by AI will still depend on empathy, ethical judgment and ability to imagine what lies ahead,” Dr. Kambhampati said while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the two-day festival at SOA campus here.
The ceremony was graced by legendary poet, writer, scriptwriter and thinker Javed Akhtar who was presented with the first SOA Sahitya Samman on the occasion.
The award comprises a citation, a shawl, a silver idol of Goddess Saraswati and cash prize of Rs. seven lakh. Instituted this year, the award will be presented to an eminent litterateur whose work exemplifies excellence, creativity and intellectual depth.
This is the third Literary Festival organised by the SOA Centre for Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PPRACHIN) which is being attended by more than 100 poets, writers, novelists, theatre and media persons from across the country many of whom will be speaking at 30 different sessions over two days.
The theme of the festival this time is ‘Culture, Creativity and Artificial Intelligence’ focusing on the impact of technical innovation on human creativity and literature.
The program was presided over by SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda while Dr. K. Sreenivasarao, former Secretary of Sahitya Akademi and Vice-President of SOA attended as guests of honour. Dr. Gayatribala Panda, Head, PPRACHIN, welcomed the guests while Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students Welfare) and Chief Coordinator of the festival, proposed the vote of thanks.
Dr. Kambhampati congratulated Akhtar on being chosen as the recipient of the first SOA Sahitya Samman while stating that his extraordinary contribution as a poet, lyricist and scriptwriter had shaped the cultural consciousness of India for more than five decades. He has given the voice to human emotion enriching Indian literature and cinema, he said.
“The honour conferred on him elevates the prestige of the award in its first year,” he said.
Describing the SOA Deemed to be University as a premier institution of higher learning, Dr. Kambhampati said the work being done by PPRACHIN and its dedication to research and digitalization points its steadfast commitment to conservation.
“A society that reads thinks, a society that thinks becomes one that progresses,” he said while describing literature as the companion in moral development.
Long before modern system of education emerged, stories, poems and ethics taught society truth, justice, courage and compassion, he said adding literature acts as a mirror to the society, challenges injustice, shows social inequalities and is a transformative course that shapes character, inculcates sympathy and expands the world view.
Akhtar, replying to his felicitation and presentation of the award, said he was overwhelmed by the honour bestowed on him. “It is a great opportunity and honour to be invited by such a university,” he said.
Describing language, culture, mythology, poetry and art as great resources, Akhtar said when India gained independence the country could not even manufacture a needle, but today it had become one of the most industrialized nations of the world.
“But in our pursuit of material achievement, we have left some baggage on the platform thinking they were not needed. Somewhere we started believing that we could not carry everything we have, and culture is one of it,” he said.
‘River Daya’, the English translation of Dr. Gayatribala Panda’s book ‘Dayanadi’ and three books published by PPRACHIN—two Sabha Parvas and Madhya Parva of ‘Saroladas Mahabharatha’ were released on the occasion.
Akhtar, who was subsequently interviewed by actor and producer Vani Tripathy Tikoo on stage and interacted with faculty members and students, spoke about Artificial Intelligence saying technology had no morality. “It depends on how you use it,” he said.
Citing the example of nuclear energy, he said it could be used both for bad and good purposes.
“The resources in it are not bad. If you delve into history, people were afraid of all discoveries, even the steam engine describing it as the vehicle of the devil,” he said while stating that it could not be creative.
“At present, it has limitations and is dependent on data. What will happen in the future cannot be said now,” he said adding right now there is no challenge to human creativity.
IIC Regional Meet 2025 held at SOA, Ignites Innovation momentum in Eastern India
More than 500 academic leaders, policymakers, incubation managers, start-up founders, mentors and ecosystem enablers representing various higher education institutions in the east attended the regional meet of the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) for 2025 at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) here on Tuesday.
The event, which was held under the aegis of the Innovation Cell of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Ministry of Education, provided a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, startup showcasing and institutional collaboration to strengthen India’s innovation and entrepreneurial landscape.
The IIC framework had evolved into a national movement connecting more than 16,000 institutions and enabling countless student innovators to benefit from mentoring, knowledge networks and pre-incubation support, Dr. Dipan Sahu, Assistant Innovation Director, AICTE, informed the participants.
Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, addressed the audience live from AICTE headquarters in New Delhi in which he spoke about the central government’s mission to institutionalize innovation practices across the country while transforming higher education campuses into engines of technological leadership.
The speakers included Dr. Jadumani Jena, former CEO of Telecom Sector Skill Council, Government of India, Dr. Bijay Kumar Sahu, Regional Manager, National Research Development Corporation, Mr. Ravi Eswarapu, CEO, Ratan Tata Innovation Hub and Prof. Deepak B. Pathak, IIT Bombay, who shared their insights on India’s emerging innovation ecosystem, the increasing relevance of market-ready technology solutions and the rising potential of academic incubators in driving knowledge-based entrepreneurship.
Ms. Rashmita Panda, CEO of Startup Odisha, elaborated on the state government’s proactive initiatives to encourage young innovators, promote institutional incubation capacity and build a world-class startup culture in the state.
Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA, spoke about the university’s continued commitment to fostering innovation-led academic excellence and nurturing student driven research with societal impact. Prof. Renu Sharma, Additional Dean (Student Affairs), delivered the welcome address.
Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT Madras, who delivered the virtual keynote address, articulated the challenges and milestones of India’s innovation journey, stressing the importance of risk-taking mindsets, market exposure and perseverance among budding entrepreneurs.
During the central inauguration of the event, streamed live from AICTE headquarters, Vice Chairman Dr. Abhay Jere and Member Secretary Prof. Shyama Rath underscored the need to build globally competitive innovation ecosystems within Indian universities and announced new pathways for funding and collaboration.
The event transitioned into parallel technical tracks which covered institutional innovation frameworks, IPR and technology transfer and financial sustainability for incubators. Speakers from various IIC institutions informed the participants on innovation strategies, IP and TRL frameworks, mentor engagement, national innovation repositories and opportunities under AICTE schemes.
The highlight of the day was the Innovation and Startup Showcase which was inaugurated by Prof. Damodar Acharya, former Chairman of AICTE and former Director of IIT Kharagpur. He interacted with YUKTI-supported innovators and appreciated the quality of prototypes and research-driven initiatives exhibited by the participating institutions.
Prof. Manas Kumar Mallick, Director, AIC-SOA Foundation and Institute of Technical Education and Research, conferred the awards and motivated innovators to keep refining their projects and actively leverage national-level platforms to access funding and market linkages.
Empowering Women is a strategic necessity to strengthen Governance: Diplomats
Empowering women to handle key political and social responsibilities is a strategic necessity to build an inclusive culture and strengthen governance, diplomats and representatives from eight countries in India said here on Monday.
The need to break down structural barriers and provide equal opportunities to women to enable them to flourish in different spheres is key to development and governance, the speakers said while addressing an international conference on ‘Redefining Leadership: The Rise of Women in Global Governance’ at the SOA Deemed to be University.
“The participation of women in governance is needed and they must be fully involved as they bring innovation and resilience to whatever they do,” Mr. Juan Antonio March Pujol, Ambassador of Spain, said. “Human dignity should be at the centre of governance and it should be accepted that leadership is not the responsibility of a few. It should be inclusive and compassionate,” Mr. Pujol said.
The conference, which was presided over by SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, was also addressed by Mr. Dharmakumar Seeraj, Ambassador of Guyana, Dr. Abdenor Khelifi, Ambassador of Algeria, Ms. Aisheth Azeema, High Commissioner of Maldives, Ms. Harisoa Lalatiana Accouche, High Commissioner of Seychelles, Mr. Kayshav Persaud Tewari, First Secretary, Embassy of Guyana, Mr. Antonio Maria De Jesus Dos Santos, Second Secretary, Embassy of Timor Leste and Ms. Arlette Gabriela Bustamante Garcia, Counsellor from the Embassy of Bolivia. Prof. Neeta Mohanty, SOA’s Pro-Vice Chancellor welcomed the diplomats.
Describing it as an ‘interesting subject’, Mr. Seeraj said Guyana, a small country with a population of 8,00,000 had been making efforts to bring parity and equality in governance with women occupying crucial positions in the system. The government has been making investment in women’s health and economic empowerment.
Quoting research findings, Mr. Seeraj said at the present rate of progress it will take 130 years from now to ensure gender equality.
“Around 90,000 women are being trained in Guyana in various domains but much more needs to be done,” he said adding 37 per cent of the country’s population were of Indian origin.
Dr. Abdenor Khelifi, Ambassador of Algeria, said women in his country had displayed extraordinary courage as leaders while the nation had taken bold steps to encourage women to take part in the political process. “Fifty per cent of judges in Algeria are women while girls account for 63 per cent of university students in the country,” Dr. Khelifi said.
Ms. Aisheth Azeema, High Commissioner of Maldives, said traditionally, women have been the backbone of the society in her country and were playing a crucial role in climate advocacy. “There is no position women cannot reach,” she said adding such conferences would go a long way in creating a more resilient world.
Ms. Harisoa Lalatiana Accouche, High Commissioner of Seychelles, said leadership was not defined by gender but by vision, resilience and empathy. The new government which was sworn-in in Seychelles two weeks ago had eight young women in the list of 14 ministers, she said adding a 35-year-old woman served as the Speaker of the National Assembly. Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, SOA’s Dean (Students’ Welfare), proposed the vote of thanks.
There is an inseparable linkage between Law and Literature: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mishra
Law and literature are two distinct and different disciplines but there is an inseparable linkage between the two, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra, Judge of the Orissa High Court said on Saturday.
“Law is an instrument which regulates human conduct and behavior while literature provides expression to human behavior which is a representation of law,” Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mishra said while speaking to students and faculty members of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University here.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mishra was addressing the gathering as part of the SOA Lecture Series.
Pointing out that literature was often represented through writings, storytelling, painting and theatre, he said law could be found in literature and vice versa.
Citing the example of eminent novelist Fakir Mohan Senapati’s magnum opus, ‘Chha Mana Athaguntha’, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mishra said the writer had exposed before the society how the colonial land laws were being misused during that time.
“Law was represented through Senapati’s story,” he said.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mishra also referred to novelist Pratibha Ray’s famous work ‘Yajnaseni’ saying the renowned writer had focused on how women were suppressed in the society under the yoke of patriarchal laws.
Shakespeare’s ‘Merchants of Venice’ also spoke about injustice and prejudices in society while the mythology ‘Mahabharat’ explained the battle between ‘dharma’ and ‘adharma’, he said.
Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA, presided over the program while Prof. Prabir Patnaik, Senior Professor in the SOA National Institute of Law (SNIL), introduced the speaker. Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) conducted the program.
Referring to the ‘Ramayana’, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mishra said the kidnapping of Sita pointed to the behavioral disorder of a person which was illegal. He was asked to return her but refused and was punished through execution.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mishra also cited the example of a series of old Hindi movies including ‘Shree 420’, ‘Awara’ and ‘Kanoon’ saying the law was sought to be taught to the society through cinematic representation through these films.
Recalling the story of the famous film ‘Andha Kanoon’, he said, the movie made it clear that no person could be punished twice for the same offence. Similarly, the nuances and technicalities of law were the focus of the film ‘No One Killed Jessica’, he added.
The famous dialogue ‘tarikh pe tarikh’ in the hindi film ‘Damini’ was a reflection of the legal system pointing to delayed justice, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mishra said.
Inclusivity and Justice must match India’s economic growth: NHRC Member
Even as India advances steadily towards becoming a leading global economic power, challenges such as poverty, caste discrimination and gender inequality continue to focus on the collective effort required to strengthen the foundations of the democracy, Ms. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, Member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), observed on Friday.
“India is witnessing an era of rapid technological advancement and economic transformation. Yet, alongside this remarkable progress, we are also reminded of the social realities that call for renewed commitment to inclusivity and justice,” Ms. Sayani said while addressing students and faculty members at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University here.
Referring to the October 2025 World Bank Report, she pointed out that around 342 million Indians—accounting for about 23.8 per cent of the population—lived on an income equivalent to 4.20 US dollars a day, with states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra facing higher rates of poverty. “These three states account for nearly 46 per cent of India’s poor. The government has been making lots of efforts to alleviate poverty over the last 15 years, yet deprivation continues to remain a pervasive shadow,” she noted.
Highlighting the gap between legal entitlements and lived realities, Ms. Sayani emphasized that ensuring affordable and equitable access to justice was essential, so that no citizen was deterred from seeking redress due to financial constraints.
Referring to the India Justice Report 2025, she highlighted the importance of strengthening access to justice so that no individual was denied liberty due to economic hardship. She noted that enhancing legal aid and ensuring timely bail can help reduce overcrowding in prisons, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra. “Empowering the underprivileged with equal legal opportunities is vital to fulfilling the Constitution’s promise of equality before the law,” she emphasized.
Presided over by Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA, the program also featured addresses by Prof. (Dr.) Neeta Mohanty, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare).
Ms. Sayani described the National Human Rights Commission, established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, as a crucial guardian of justice and dignity for the marginalized. “The NHRC is not merely a bureaucratic entity but has become a lifeline for the poor and underprivileged,” she affirmed.
Over the past 32 years, the NHRC has handled more than 23.79 lakh cases, including 2,981 of which had been taken up suo motu, and has provided monetary relief amounting to Rs. 263 crore in 8,924 cases, she informed. “These figures reflect not just the scale of our work, but our unwavering commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of every citizen,” Ms. Sayani concluded.
Be analytical, be meticulous — Hon'ble Justice Dixit’s message to the next generation of lawyers.
Students of law are required to be analytical, meticulous, proficient in both law and language and study a lot to shine in the profession, judge of Orissa High Court, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Krishna Shripad Dixit said on Saturday.
“One has to study different laws and subjects to acquire knowledge as you don’t know what kind of cases you may have to handle,” Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dixit said while addressing the 15th orientation program of the new batch of students of the SOA National Institute of Law (SNIL), faculty of legal studies of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University here.
“Law speaks through language and you have to be proficient in language and know both law and language to deal with cases,” he said.
The students of law should be analytical and study logic besides being very sensitive to matters, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dixit said while citing the case of the Jewish king Solomon and how he solved a difficult case.
The case involved two women and a baby with both claiming to be the mother of the child. It was a difficult case as DNA testing was unknown at that time.
Solomon, regarded as the wisest among all Jewish kings, ordered that the child be cut into two and handed over to the two women. At this, the actual mother of the baby screamed that the child should be given to the other woman as she wanted the baby to survive.
This decided the case and the actual mother of the child could be identified, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dixit said.
The program was presided over by SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda while Prof. S.A.K. Azad, Dean of SNIL, delivered the welcome address.
Stating that there was no substitute for hard work, he cited the example of eminent Indian jurist Nani Palkhivala who had approached the chancellor of Bombay University, where he was a student of law, with the plea that the university library should be kept open beyond its closing time of 5 pm as he wanted to study.
The request was granted and he spent hours among piles of books which made him one of the country’s most eminent jurists, he said adding his hard work made him great.
“At the same time, mere hard work will not help unless you know your destination,” Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dixit said.
The legal profession is not a business but is based on morality. You should never delay or deprive justice, he said.
Citing illustrations about clever use of legal technicality, he referred to the case of an Indian lawyer who took up the case involving violation of a rule that no horse-drawn chariots or carts could ply outside the Vice Regal Palace.
In his argument, the lawyer said while the rule prohibited use of horses to ply chariots or carts in the prohibited area, the carriage in question had been drawn by mares--- female horses—and so no violation of the rules had taken place.
“Go for wider range of studies. One book is not the ethos of our country or our culture,” Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dixit said.
Quoting the Gita, he said it said there was nothing as sacred as acquiring knowledge.