The KISS Deemed to be University organized a Distinguished Invited Lecture on “NEP-2020: Prospects of Excellence in Higher Education” on 30th September 2026. The lecture was delivered by Professor Bibhuti Bhusan Mohanty, Professor, Department of Sociology, Pondicherry University, who was invited as the distinguished guest speaker. The lecture focused on the prospects and transformative potential of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in promoting excellence, innovation, and quality in higher education.
In his Welcome Address, Dr. Prashanta Kumar Routray, Registrar, KISS-DU, highlighted the relevance and significance of the topic. He stated that both KISS and KISS-DU have been actively implementing the National Education Policy (NEP). Elaborating on the institution’s longstanding commitment to the principles of NEP, he noted that KISS has been implementing the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education Programme since its inception, which constitutes one of the key provisions emphasised under the NEP. Dr. Routray also highlighted several significant achievements of the University in recent years, underscoring its continued contributions to the field of education and its commitment to academic excellence. The distinguished speaker was formally introduced by Dr. Chittaranjan Bhoi, Dean, School of Comparative Tribal Languages and Literatures.
Professor Bibhuti Bhusan Mohanty shared his experiences of implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 at Pondicherry University in his capacity as the Chairman of the NEP Implementation Committee. He elaborated on the various strategies adopted by the University during the implementation process and discussed the challenges encountered along the way, as well as the measures undertaken to address and overcome them. While highlighting some of the key provisions of NEP 2020, Professor Mohanty emphasized that research, innovation, and flexibility are among its core focus areas. He further underscored the importance of these dimensions in fostering a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and future-oriented higher education system. He expressed appreciation for the Earn While You Programme at KISS. Professor Mohanty highlighted several key areas emphasized under NEP 2020, including research, innovation, flexibility, policy-oriented research, and the social relevance of research. He further emphasized that multidisciplinary and collaborative research constitute important focus areas of the policy, with the aim of promoting impactful, interdisciplinary, and socially relevant knowledge creation.
Professor Deepak Kumar Behera, Senior Advisor, KISS-DU, highlighted several innovative and pioneering initiatives, including Atma Nirbhar Janjatiya Yuva Udyami, Professors of Practice and Professors Emeriti, Research Chairs, and Research Centres. He noted that these initiatives are aligned with and contribute significantly to the core objectives of NEP 2020. In conclusion, he encouraged faculty members to remain abreast of emerging developments in their respective fields and to strengthen their research contributions by publishing their work in reputed and peer-reviewed journals.
The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. Pragyan Mohanty, Dean, School of Tribal Legal Studies and Tribal Rights, KISS-DU
