Berhampur: In a proud moment for Berhampur’s NIST University, Team MetaAchievers won the Best XR Innovation Award at the prestigious Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) BAF Awards 2025, held at Mumbai’s Hotel Sofitel.
Organised by FICCI, the competition recognises outstanding contributions in Animation, VFX, Gaming and Extended Reality (XR).
The NIST team impressed industry experts with their project titled Mahakumbh VR Experience — an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) application designed to revolutionise education and tourism by offering users a first-hand experience of the iconic Mahakumbh Mela.
The team was led by Arvind Kumar Sahu (CSE 3rd year), and supported by Sruyakanta Mahanta (CSE 2nd year), Sneha Jha (CSE 2nd year) and Bikash Bisoyi (IT 2nd year), with Prof. Santosh Kumar Kar guiding the students.
The project stood out for its ability to enhance historical and cultural learning through XR, blending Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR). Their innovative approach to storytelling and experiential learning secured them top spot in the Best Use of XR in Education/Tourism (Student Category).
The journey of Arvind, from a self-taught XR enthusiast to an award-winning creator, highlights the power of hands-on learning and real-world problem-solving, as he led his team to victory in three hackathons and a successful prototype showcase.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Arvind emphasised the growing role of XR in reshaping education and tourism. “XR is not just a technology… It’s a bridge between imagination and reality, a tool that can change how we learn, experience, and connect with the world,” he said.
The team also participated in a panel discussion on the Future of XR in Education and Tourism, sharing insights on how extended reality can transform cultural storytelling and learning experiences.
The FICCI BAF Awards, which have played a key role in recognising innovations in digital content creation, featured top contestants across multiple XR and animation categories.
