Kolkata, 06th November 2025: Guru Nanak Institute of Technology (GNIT), a JIS Group Educational Initiative, successfully concluded a two-day AICTE-VAANI funded seminar titled “Opportunities and Innovations in Hydrogen Energy” from November 3 to 4, 2025. Organised by the Department of Electrical Engineering (NBA Accredited) and the Department of Applied Science and Humanities, the seminar aligned with the AICTE-VAANI scheme’s mission to promote technical learning and knowledge dissemination in Indian languages.
The event served as a prestigious forum for faculty members, researchers, M.Tech scholars, and industry professionals from various AICTE-approved institutions to explore the transformative potential of hydrogen as the fuel of the future. Sessions were conducted in Bengali, reinforcing the VAANI initiative’s objective of empowering Indian languages in science and engineering education.
The seminar was inaugurated with traditional lamp lighting and Saraswati Vandana in the august presence of Prof. (Dr.) Swarup Kumar Mitra, Principal, GNIT; Prof. (Dr.) Neeraj Saxena, Pro-Chancellor, JIS University; Dr. Barnali Kundu, Professor & Head, Department of Electrical Engineering and Seminar Coordinator; and Dr. Shantanu Datta, Co-Coordinator, Department of Applied Science & Humanities (Mechanical Section). They underscored the importance of developing collaboration, knowledge-building, and innovation to accelerate India’s clean-energy transition.
The technical sessions commenced with an inspiring keynote address by Prof. (Dr.) Rahul Banerjee, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awardee (2018) and Professor, IISER Kolkata, whose expert insights on hydrogen storage and carbon capture technologies set a high academic tone. His lecture highlighted the immense scope for indigenous research and hydrogen-driven decarbonisation in India’s energy roadmap.
The seminar also witnessed enriching sessions by distinguished experts including Prof. (Dr.) Jitendra Nath Bera, University of Calcutta; Mr. Arunabha Debnath, General Manager I/c (Engineering & Projects), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.; Prof. (Dr.) Asim Datta, Professor & HoD, Tezpur University; Dr. Barnali Kundu, GNIT; and Mr. Saptak Bhattacherjee, Founder & CEO, Intuitive Robotics OPC Pvt. Ltd. Their deliberations covered hydrogen production from water, biomass and fossil fuels, efficient storage systems, fuel-cell utilisation, safety instrumentation, policy frameworks, and industry-academia research synergy.
Participants actively engaged in discussions on India’s Net Zero goals, hydrogen-powered mobility, industrial implementation and the role of innovation in achieving an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The two-day programme emphasised the importance of community-driven energy transition and encouraged students to contribute to global sustainability efforts through research and innovation. The sessions were effectively anchored by Ms. Ipsita Chakrabarty, Faculty, Department of Applied Science and Humanities.
Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Taranjit Singh, Managing Director, JIS Group, said, “At JIS Group, we are dedicated to nurturing innovation, research, and sustainable technological advancement. The future of clean energy lies in embracing transformative solutions like hydrogen, and initiatives such as this seminar empower young minds to lead India’s journey towards energy independence and global leadership in green technology. We are proud to see GNIT championing knowledge and shaping future engineers committed to a cleaner, smarter, and energy-secure world.”