Warm greetings from the Alumni Relations Division (ARD) and the Student Alumni Relations Cell (SARC) of BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus! We're delighted to present the April 2026 edition of Campus Connect, capturing a month defined by achievement, athletic excellence, innovation, and dynamic engagement across academics, sports, and global collaborations.
This past April proved to be a vibrant and action-packed month for our community, brimming with milestones across all spheres of campus life. In this issue, we shine a spotlight on our students who continuously push boundaries, earning top honors at major global tech symposiums and fiercely competitive athletic tournaments like SPREE 2026. We also delve into the exciting new research infrastructure taking root on campus, alongside inspiring stories of our alumni who are actively shaping the future of the technology industry alongside international academic partners.
The accomplishments of our students, faculty, and alumni stand as a testament to the values of excellence, curiosity, and perseverance that have always defined the BITS Goa community. As the academic year progresses, the momentum built this April continues to inspire all that lies ahead.
BITS Pilani Startup Hub Bengaluru in collaboration with Google Cloud hosted an AI Immersion Day on 29 April 2026 at HustleHub Tech Park. The event brought together BITSian founders for discussions on AI adoption and scaling startups. The panel featured BITS Goa alumni Shardul Lavekar, Arun Gandhi, Vatsal Rastogi and Priyesh Srivastava, highlighting their growing impact in the global AI ecosystem.
The Biomedical Engineering Laboratory was inaugurated at the Department of EEE by Director of BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus Prof. Suman Kundu, in the presence of Dean Administration Prof. Meenal Kowshik and HoD (EEE) Prof. A Amalin Prince. Equipped for advanced biomedical signal processing, the facility supports cutting-edge research and innovation.
Bits Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus recently welcomed distinguished alumnus Prof. Sameer Sonkusale from Tufts University. Coordinated by the IPCD, the visit focused on forging strategic international partnerships and research collaborations. Prof. Sonkusale engaged with Vice Chancellor Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao and Director Prof. Suman Kundu, touring state-of-the-art facilities like APPCAIR and CSIF to foster interdisciplinary innovation and global excellence.
Bits Pilani K. K. Birla Goa Campus recently inaugurated the Imaginarium Initiative, a dedicated exhibition space at the entrance of the CS Department. Envisioned as a platform to showcase student-led computational research, the launch featured impressive demonstrations including the Campus Map navigation system, CSIS Smart Assist and Manthan. Attended by the Director, Dean, and faculty, this initiative marks a vital step in fostering a department-wide culture of innovation and technical excellence.
Bits Pilani K. K. Birla Goa Campus recently hosted CERT-In SAMVAAD 2026, an exclusive closed-door conference featuring senior government officials, industry leaders, and academic researchers. The conclave served as a premier platform for cybersecurity practitioners to discuss emerging threat intelligence and auditing compliance. Through curated tech talks and panel discussions, the event fostered critical collaboration for next-generation cybersecurity innovation and product development.
FMAC, after years of consistent excellence and representing the campus at national and international levels, marked a significant milestone with the formal inauguration of its dedicated room in the newly built section of the clubhouse. Equipped with new PCs, cameras and essential infrastructure, the space aims to support and enhance the club’s creative pursuits. This development recognized FMAC’s long standing contributions and provided an environment to further nurture talent and innovation.
April 2026 saw many achievements by students of BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus in international competitions. Students performed very well in different events and reached global finals. Their success showed strong skills, teamwork, and hard work, and helped increase the institute’s presence on the global stage.
BITSkrieg, a student team from BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus, qualified for the onsite finals of HackTheon Sejong 2026 in South Korea. Selected among the top 10 teams globally from over 1000 entries, they stood as the only Indian team to reach this stage, marking a significant international achievement.
Khushraj Rathod from BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus won a gold medal in IT Network Systems Administration at the IndiaSkills National Competition 2025–26. Among over 3.65 lakh registrations, he reached the top level and advanced to represent India at WorldSkills2026 in Shanghai.
Team AuraSense, comprising students from BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus, secured the Runner-Up position at the Edge Intelligence Challenge 2026 Finals. Competing against over 450 teams across India, they ranked among the top 2. Mentored by Prof. Neena Goveas, their work showed strong innovation and real-world problem-solving.
Students of BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus performed very well at their annual sports fest, SPREE 2026. Their strong performance showed a good balance between academics and sports, highlighting the importance of overall development and active participaion in both studies and extracurricular activities.
BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus student Arnav Verma secured third place at the CADFEM APAC Ansys Technology Hackathon 2026 held on campus. The event provided hands-on exposure to Ansys Fluent, enabling participants to apply fluid mechanics concepts to real world problems and explore computational fluid dynamics.
This achievement highlighted the institute’s focus on experiential learning and technical excellence.
April witnessed a vibrant series of cultural and scientific exhibitions, as various clubs showcased the work and achievements they had built over the course of the year. These events drew enthusiastic participation from the student body and highlighted an impressive display of creativity, innovation and talent across disciplines.
The annual Kala Night exhibition was held on 18th and 19th April at the LT3/4 lawns, with students showcasing a wide range of creative art installations. The event also featured stalls selling handmade items such as bead bracelets, keychains, clay trinkets and jewellery. The exhibition witnessed enthusiastic participation and provided a vibrant platform for students to express their creativity.
IEEE BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus (Lumni), in collaboration with Qualcomm, conducted a hands-on workshop on Arduino UNO Q on 19th April at DLT-9. The session introduced students to the fundamentals of electronics and microcontrollers, providing practical exposure through guided activities. The workshop saw strong participation and offered students an opportunity to build and innovate under expert guidance.
180 Degrees Consulting, BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus, successfully hosted the fifth edition of its flagship student consulting case competition, Consultathon 5.0. The event brought together participants from across campuses to tackle real world business challenges, showcasing structured problem solving and strategic thinking. With a substantial prize pool and participation perks, the competition provided a valuable platform for students to test and develop their consulting skills.
As part of Drama Nights 26, 5 plays were performed over the span of 3 days. The performances explored intense themes through a compelling narrative and strong stage presence, making it a noteworthy addition to the series. The plays wer well received for its dramatic execution and immersive storytelling.
The finals of the Around the Net table tennis tournament was held on 26th April at the Table Tennis Room, featuring a thrilling face off between Pong Stars and Sancoale Smashers. After an intense series of matches leading up to the finale, both teams displayed exceptional skill and determination, with the event drawing an enthusiastic crowd and culminating in a high energy championship showdown.
The final movie screening of the semester featured Dhurandhar 2, held on 24th April at the Auditorium. The event showcased a gripping sequel with heightened action and compelling themes, drawing a strong student turnout. The screening was smoothly conducted, reflecting the coordinated efforts involved in organizing the event and ensuring an engaging experience for the audience.
Hackenza 2026 concluded after an intense showcase of coding, innovation and problem solving, with multiple teams emerging victorious across categories. OS_Grp_12 and BrahmandGurus were declared joint winners in Reliable Underwater Communication, while NAS: Not AI Slop, Sapphire, and other teams secured top positions in their respective tracks. The event also recognized notable efforts from several participants and was supported by faculty members who provided guidance and evaluated submissions, making it a successful and competitive hackathon.
BatchSnaps 2026, BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus, was held at B-Dome on 11th April, bringing together graduating students for a memorable group photoshoot. Organized by the Alumni Relations Division and Student Alumni Relations Cell, the event celebrated shared experiences, friendships and milestones, capturing lasting memories of the graduating batch.
The Student Alumni Relations Cell (SARC),BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus, organized an online BITS2QUANT Talk on 26th April 2026. The session featured alumni Rit Pratik Mishra (Batch of 2010), Data Scientist at Pfizer, and Swayam Ranjan (Batch of 2020), Quantitative Research Analyst at BlackRock, who shared insights into their professional journeys and experiences in quantitative finance and data driven roles. The talk introduced students to key concepts in quant research and financial modeling, followed by an interactive Q&A session. The event saw active participation and provided valuable guidance to students exploring careers in this domain.
The Alumni Relations Division (ARD) and the Student Alumni Relations Cell (SARC), BITS Goa, organized the Director’s Tea Party on 25th April 2026 to bid farewell to the graduating students as they prepare to begin a new chapter in their lives. The evening provided an opportunity for students, faculty, and the administration to come together and reflect on the experiences and memories formed during their time at BITS Goa. Marking the conclusion of an important phase of campus life, the event was characterized by engaging conversations, shared reminiscence, and heartfelt moments.
As we move through a month filled with activity and achievement, it is equally important to recognise the quieter moments that keep us grounded. Progress is not always about pushing harder, it is also about knowing when to pause, reflect, and realign. Taking care of your mental well being allows you to show up with greater focus, energy, and purpose in everything you do.
Let us continue to build a campus environment where openness, understanding, and mutual support are part of everyday life, where reaching out and checking in becomes instinctive rather than occasional.
Every journey here is shared in some way, shaped by the people around us and the experiences we grow through together. Thank you for being a valued part of the BITSian community, one that continues to learn, support, and move forward together.
“As we continue to build momentum into the year, we celebrate the ambition, resilience, and collaborative spirit that define the BITS Goa experience.”
Stay connected. Stay inspired. Follow the Student Alumni Relations Cell.
alumnirelations@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in | sarc@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in
Alumni Relations Division