Dr. Achyuta Samanta has added yet another milestone to an already extraordinary record. The latest Achyuta Samanta honorary doctorate has been conferred by Maharaja Ganga Singh University (MGSU), Bikaner – one of Rajasthan’s oldest government universities – taking his tally of honorary doctorates to 75.
The eminent educationist, social reformer and Founder of KIIT, KISS and KIMS, Bhubaneswar, received the degree at a special ceremony organised by the university at Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan), Jaipur on Thursday, 30 July 2026. The university bestowed the honour in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to societal development and welfare through education.
Achyuta Samanta Honorary Doctorate Presented by Rajasthan Governor
Shri Haribhau Bagde, Hon’ble Governor of Rajasthan and Chancellor of MGSU, presented the Achyuta Samanta honorary doctorate at the Jaipur ceremony. He was joined on the dais by Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister of Rajasthan, Prof. Manoj Dixit, Vice-Chancellor of MGSU, and Prof. Yashpal Ahuja, Registrar. Several ministers, MLAs of Rajasthan and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Smt. Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, Hon’ble Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), was also conferred an honorary doctorate at the same event. The university selected Dr. Samanta for the honour after thorough research on his lifelong work in education and social service.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Honour | Honorary Doctorate |
| Conferred on | Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder – KIIT, KISS, KIMS |
| Conferred by | Maharaja Ganga Singh University (MGSU), Bikaner, Rajasthan |
| Venue | Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan), Jaipur |
| Presented by | Shri Haribhau Bagde, Governor of Rajasthan and Chancellor, MGSU |
| Number | 75th honorary doctorate received by Dr. Samanta |
| Also honoured | Smt. Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, Chairperson, NCW |
The Work Behind the Achyuta Samanta Honorary Doctorate
Born in a poor family in Kalarabanka village of Jagatsinghpur district, Odisha, Dr. Samanta lost his father at the age of four and grew up in severe hardship. He went on to found two institutions in 1992 and 1993 that changed the education landscape of eastern India, and his journey is the reason universities across the country keep recognising him.
KIIT: A University Built From Scratch
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology began in a rented building and is today a deemed-to-be university with students from across India and abroad. It has climbed steadily in global rankings; earlier this year KIIT was ranked 6th in India and topped eastern India in the THE Asia University Rankings 2026. Students seeking admission here appear for KIITEE, and you can check the complete KIITEE exam dates, syllabus and application details before applying. More information is available on the official website, kiit.ac.in.
KISS and the Achyuta Samanta Honorary Doctorate for Tribal Education
Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) provides completely free education, food, accommodation and healthcare to tribal children, and is often cited as the largest residential tribal institution of its kind in the world. This model of social inclusion is the core reason behind almost every Achyuta Samanta honorary doctorate awarded so far. The institution’s humanitarian work has drawn national attention, including when Nita Ambani received the KISS Humanitarian Award. Details of its programmes are available at kiss.ac.in.
Honour Dedicated to His Late Mother
Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Samanta thanked Governor Shri Bagde and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Manoj Dixit for inviting him from Odisha, honouring him and appreciating his work, and said this memory would always remain close to his heart. As the 10th death anniversary of his late mother, Nilimarani, falls on 2 August, he dedicated the honour to her and prayed for the peace of her soul.
Recognition for his work has been steady through 2026. In July, Dr. Samanta received the AAPI Award for social work and Indo-US partnership. His complete profile and list of honours are maintained at achyutasamanta.com.
About Maharaja Ganga Singh University, Bikaner
Established in 2003 under the University of Bikaner Act, MGSU is a state public university that acts as the affiliating body for hundreds of colleges across Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar districts. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and doctoral programmes, and is regarded as one of Rajasthan’s premier government universities. Its official portal is mgsubikaner.ac.in. School students in the state planning for such universities can begin with RBSE syllabus, model papers and study material.
Why the Achyuta Samanta Honorary Doctorate Matters for Students
An honorary doctorate is not earned through coursework or a thesis. It is conferred by a university’s highest statutory authority to recognise exceptional contribution to a field or to society. For students, the significance of this Achyuta Samanta honorary doctorate lies in what it recognises – that building institutions which educate first-generation and tribal learners is treated by the academic world as scholarship of the highest order.
FAQ – Achyuta Samanta Honorary Doctorate
Which university conferred the 75th Achyuta Samanta honorary doctorate?
Maharaja Ganga Singh University (MGSU), Bikaner, Rajasthan conferred the 75th honorary doctorate on Dr. Achyuta Samanta at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan), Jaipur.
Who presented the honorary doctorate to Dr. Achyuta Samanta?
Shri Haribhau Bagde, Governor of Rajasthan and Chancellor of MGSU, presented the degree in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Manoj Dixit and Registrar Prof. Yashpal Ahuja.
How many honorary doctorates does Achyuta Samanta have?
This is the 75th honorary doctorate received by Dr. Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT, KISS and KIMS, Bhubaneswar.
Who else was honoured at the same MGSU ceremony?
Smt. Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, was also conferred an honorary doctorate at the same event.
Why was Dr. Achyuta Samanta selected for this honour?
MGSU selected him after thorough research on his work, recognising his extraordinary contributions to societal development and welfare through education, particularly free residential education for tribal children at KISS.
