Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, received the Utkrisht Sansthan Vishwakarma Award-2020 for excellence leading to significant contribution towards national growth and development.

The Utkrisht Sansthan Vishwakarma Award is awarded by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to promote innovative spirit and scientific temperament for the holistic development of the society through institutions. The award was presented in 13 categories.

AICTE had held a competition — AICTE-Vishwakarma Awards-2020—for students and AICTE-approved institutes to encourage and motivate young students and institutions to raise their performance in specific domains. The council recognised and honoured the innovative work of KIIT-DU during the COVID-19 pandemic — the only Indian institution to be awarded in this category.

The awards were announced in the presence of Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, AICTE chairman Prof. Anil. D. Sahasrabudhe, AICTE vice-chairman Dr. M. P. Poonia, and member-secretary Prof. Rajive Kumar, among other eminent educationists and dignitaries.

AICTE is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament. Its main aim is to properly plan and co-ordinate development of the technical education system throughout the country and promote qualitative improvement of education in relation to planned quantitative growth.