Vikramshila, IIT Kharagpur West Bengal | 15th January 2026: IIT Kharagpur is set to host Kshitij 2026, its annual techno-management symposium, from 16 to 18 January 2026. Recognised as one of India’s most prominent student-led festivals dedicated to technology, innovation, and management, the 2026 edition holds special significance as it coincides with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of IIT Kharagpur, marking 75 years of the Institute’s contributions to education, research, and national development.
Strong Industry Participation and Sponsorship
Demonstrating robust industry engagement, NPCI has come on board as the Title Sponsor for Kshitij 2026. HCL Tech joins as the Co-Title Sponsor, while Hero MotoCorp is the Associate Title Sponsor for this edition. Their participation highlights strong corporate support for the festival’s academic, technological, and outreach initiatives.
Distinguished Guest Lecture Series
The Guest Lecture Series at Kshitij 2026 will feature eminent leaders from governance, policy, industry, and the judiciary. Notable speakers include Mr. K. N. Vyas, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission; Mr. Ashok Lavasa, former Finance Secretary of India and former Vice President (South Asia), Asian Development Bank; and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the 51st Chief Justice of India.
Other distinguished participants include Mr. Suresh Prabhu, former Union Minister for Railways, Commerce & Industry, and Civil Aviation; Mr. Rajat Sharma, Founder and Chairman of India TV; Mr. Rishi Kumar Shukla, former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation; and Mr. Bipul Chandra, Managing Director of Ducati India. The sessions will explore themes such as governance, constitutional values, economic policy, leadership, and institutional reform.
Workshops, Summits and Business Conclave
Kshitij 2026 will host a diverse mix of workshops, a Technology Summit, and a Business Conclave, aimed at building industry-relevant skills, entrepreneurial thinking, and innovation-driven problem solving. Previous editions have witnessed participation from leading global organisations including Bajaj, Boeing, Cisco, and Genpact, reinforcing the festival’s industry connect.
Technical Competitions and Hackathons
The festival will feature a broad range of competitive technical and innovation-driven events, attracting students from across India and abroad. Core engineering competitions such as Robowars, Drone Racing, Laws of Motion Championship, Line Follower, Droid Blitz, and Sand Rover will test expertise in robotics, automation, aeromodelling, and mechanical design. Mechatronics events will focus on autonomous systems, control algorithms, and real-time decision-making.
Several hackathons and coding challenges will address real-world problem statements in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cybersecurity. Key events include Overnite, Source Code, On-Block Web3 Hackathon, Tech Triad Hackathon, Scam Bust Challenge, Lexicognition AI, Build with Gemini, and the NLP Challenge.
Management, Innovation and Sustainability Events
On the management and innovation front, events such as B-Plan, Indian Case Challenge, Enigma (Biz-Tech Quiz), Anadigix, and the Kshitij Maths Olympiad will promote entrepreneurship, strategic thinking, and analytical excellence. Sustainability-focused initiatives like SolarVision and the WASH Innovation Challenge will showcase technology-led solutions for social and environmental impact.
Technology Exhibitions and Megashows
Kshitij 2026 will host large-scale technology and robotics exhibitions, featuring quadruped and humanoid robots, autonomous service robots, AR/VR-integrated systems, and LiDAR-based installations presented by the Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design (CoE-UPD), IIT Kharagpur. The exhibition zone will also include a showcase of Ducati motorcycles and a professional stunt show by Hero MotoCorp.
Adding to the festival’s scale and cultural outreach, the Megashows will feature live performances by Raftaar and Last Minute India.
Registration and Accommodation
For more details about events, schedules, and registrations, visit www.ktj.in. Accommodation information is available at www.ktj.in/Accommodation
Kshitij 2026 promises to be a landmark edition, blending technology, innovation, leadership, and culture as IIT Kharagpur celebrates 75 years of excellence.
