Konverge 1.0 Held at KIIT
Konverge 1.0 was held at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to be University, on 27 and 28 February 2026 by KINETEX LAB and K-1000. The two-day event attracted approximately 550 enthusiastic participants and aimed to motivate and engage students in programming, technology, and career development. The programme provided students with opportunities to interact with industry experts and enhance their technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities.
The event was conducted under the guidance of faculty members Dr. Anjan Bandyopadhyay (Associate Professor), Dr. Ajit Kumar Pasayat (Associate Professor), Dr. Mahendra Kumar Gourisaria (Associate Professor), Mr. Sourabh Debnath (Assistant Professor), and Dr. Krishna Chakrabarty (Associate Professor and Dean, KSAC).
The first day featured a visit by programmer, educator, and mentor Love Babbar, who interacted with students and discussed programming, problem-solving strategies, and career opportunities in the technology industry. Students actively participated in the discussions and gained valuable insights.
The afternoon session began with a welcome address by Dr. Anjan Bandyopadhyay, followed by remarks from Dr. Mahendra Kumar Gourisaria and Dr. Sourabh Debnath, who encouraged students to actively participate in technical programmes and pursue innovation.
Love Babbar later delivered a lecture on data structures and algorithms, strategies for placements, and the importance of consistency in programming practice. During his session, he also announced the problem statement for the hackathon organised as part of Konverge 1.0.
The second day began with the hackathon, where participants worked in teams to develop solutions to the announced problem statement and presented their innovative ideas and technical implementations.
Varun Singla, founder of Gate Smashers, served as the judge of the hackathon and evaluated the projects submitted by the teams. He provided constructive feedback to help students strengthen their technical thinking and problem-solving approaches.
In the afternoon session, Varun Singla addressed the participants and delivered a lecture on the fundamentals of computer science and the importance of conceptual clarity in technical education. He also discussed quantum computing and its future potential in fields such as artificial intelligence, cryptography, and advanced scientific research.
The winners of the hackathon were announced during the session. The best-performing team received the Champion Trophy, while several participants were awarded Excellence Certificates for their outstanding performance and innovative solutions.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Sourabh Debnath, who expressed gratitude to the guest speakers, faculty members, organisers, and participants for making Konverge 1.0 a successful event.