Rourkela, June 1: After hosting student delegates from Gujarat under Yuva Sangam Phase VI, the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela flagged off a delegation of 41 students from Odisha for their reciprocal exposure visit to Gujarat under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) initiative of the Ministry of Education.
Rourkela MLA Sarada Prasad Nayak flagged off the tour in the presence of NIT, Rourkela Director Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao.
The Gujarat delegation, which had completed its six-day immersive visit across Odisha, also departed along with the Odisha team.
MLA Nayak also interacted with the visiting Gujarat delegates and shared the history of Rourkela and highlighted how the city was planned and developed as one of India’s prominent industrial townships.
Addressing the students, Prof Rao said, “Today, the students of Odisha will represent our state in Gujarat and carry with them the rich heritage, traditions and values of Odisha. Making most of this golden opportunity, you must return with knowledge, experiences and friendships that will enrich your lives and contribute to nation-building.”
He said this journey presents an opportunity to learn new experiences, understand diverse cultures, and forge meaningful connections across regions.
“Among more than 2,500 applicants, only 41 students have been selected from different districts of Odisha, making this a proud achievement and a significant responsibility,” he said.
NIT Rourkela has been designated as the nodal institution from Odisha for Yuva Sangam Phase VI, while Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad) serves as the nodal institution from Gujarat. The programme at NIT Rourkela is being coordinated under the guidance of Prof. Winny Routray, Nodal Officer, Yuva Sangam Odisha.
The Odisha delegation is being accompanied by faculty coordinators Prof. Deepanjan Saha, Prof. Mohd Khalid Gul, Prof. Rashmi Achla Minz, Mr. C Alagesan (Sports Officer), and Ms. Archana Gupta, Public Relations Officer at NIT Rourkela.
During their visit to Gujarat from May 30 to June 8, 2026, the delegates will explore various educational, cultural, historical and developmental landmarks across the state. The itinerary includes visits to the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad), Adalaj Stepwell, Sabarmati Ashram, Amul Dairy, Indira Bridge, and several other important locations. The delegation will also travel to Gandhinagar (capital city of Gujarat), where they are scheduled to interact with Shri Acharya Devvrat, Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat.
The visit aims to provide participants with first-hand exposure to Gujarat’s culture, traditions, development initiatives, governance models, innovation ecosystem and local way of life. Through interactions with institutions, communities and local stakeholders, students will gain deeper insights into the diversity and unity that define India.
