When we walk through the corridors of the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), we aren't just walking through a heritage structure; we are walking through a timeline of innovation that has constantly reinvented itself. While UVCE is famed for its legacy, one specific initiative stands out as the torchbearer of student research and technical inquisitiveness: KAGADA.

As the IEEE UVCE Student Branch celebrates its Silver Jubilee in 2025, marking 25 years of excellence, it is impossible to narrate its history without shining a spotlight on Kagada. What began as a modest paper presentation contest has evolved into a National-Level Technical Student Conference, becoming a rite of passage for thousands of engineering students. This post dives deep into the two-decade journey of Kagada, exploring how it became the cradle of research at UVCE.

The Genesis: A Vision for Technical Discourse

The early 2000s were a time of revitalization for student activities at UVCE. The IEEE student branch, which had seen previous attempts at establishment in the late 70s and 90s, finally took firm root in 2001. With this revival came a surge of energy to move beyond standard classroom learning. The students wanted a platform not just to consume knowledge, but to create and present it.

This desire materialized in 2005 with the birth of Kagada.

Launched as a National Level Technical Paper Presentation Contest, Kagada was conceptualized to bring together inquisitive research minds. The name itself—Kagada, meaning 'Paper' in Kannada—was a nod to our roots, symbolizing the fundamental medium of research dissemination. In its inaugural year (2005-06), it set the stage for what would become a premier annual event, challenging students to document their technical ideas and defend them before a panel of experts.

Evolution of a Research Ecosystem (2007–2015)

Kagada didn't stay a simple contest for long. The organizers realized that for research to flourish, students needed more than just a competition; they needed a culture of innovation.

In 2007, IEEE UVCE inaugurated Avishkar, a research wing with the motto "Think, Innovate, Explore." This was a pivotal moment. Avishkar began organizing seminars and workshops, specifically in fields like Robotics, laying the groundwork for the high-quality papers that would eventually be presented at Kagada.

By 2008, Kagada had matured into the "Fifth National Student Conference." It wasn't just about reading a paper anymore; it was about rigorous academic inquiry. The 2009 edition (the 6th National Level Student Conference) and the 2010 edition saw participation numbers swell. In 2010 alone, over 100 students participated, with more than 35 technical papers presented—a significant number for a student-run event at the time.

The event also became a platform for inclusivity. In 2011, a special Women in Engineering (WIE) session was introduced at Kagada to specifically encourage research among women engineers. This forward-thinking approach ensured that the research community at UVCE remained diverse and vibrant.

Expanding Horizons: Beyond the Paper

As the years progressed, Kagada expanded its scope. It wasn't enough to just write about technology; students had to build it.

The Modern Era: Kagathon and Hybrid Innovations (2017–2025)

To keep pace with the software boom and the "maker" culture, Kagada had to reinvent itself again. The 2017-18 session saw the introduction of Kagathon, a pre-Kagada marathon or hackathon. This event was designed to get students' hands dirty with code and hardware before the main conference. It complemented the "Project Run," a 3-month long contest where teams built innovative prototypes in IoT, Machine Learning, and App Development.

Even the global pandemic couldn't dampen the spirit of Kagada. The 2020 and 2021 editions seamlessly transitioned to virtual and hybrid modes. The 2022 edition, held as a signature paper presentation symposium, and the 2023 edition, with its focus on sustainability-themed challenges, proved the event's resilience.

KAGADA 2025: The 21st Edition

Fast forward to November 2025. The 21st Annual National-Level Technical Student Conference was held on November 8th, and it was a spectacle of modern engineering. The event saw a staggering 537 participants.

The structure of Kagada 2025 reflects the complexity of modern engineering demands:

• Project Presentation Track: Featuring 120 participants showcasing practical solutions.
• Paper Presentation Track: 18 teams presented deep-dive research into AI, Intelligent Automation, and Power Quality.
• Poster Presentation Track: A hybrid mode that expanded to include Cybersecurity alongside Core and IT domains.

Notably, the event was supported by the MARVEL R&D Lab (Makerspace for Advanced Research, Vital Education and Learning). MARVEL students presented cutting-edge work, such as "Path Planning for AUV using Hybrid DQN" and "AquaSpectra"—an autonomous microplastic detection system. These aren't just college projects; they are viable solutions to real-world problems.

From UVCE to the World: A Launchpad for Global Success

The true measure of Kagada's success is where its participants go next. The rigor of writing a paper for Kagada often eliminates the fear of research for undergraduates.

Take the story of Rohit Pawar (7th Sem ECE, 2025). His team's work on "Securing Long Range Communication Using E-91 Quantum Key Distribution Protocol" didn't just stop at the college gates. They were invited to present at the 17th International Congress on Ultra Modern Telecommunications and Control Systems (ICUMT 2025) in Florence, Italy.

When funding became an issue, the UVCE Graduates Association (UVCEGA) stepped in with financial support, proving that the alumni community backs student research 100%. Rohit’s journey—from writing a paper in the library to presenting it in Italy—is exactly the kind of trajectory Kagada was designed to launch.

Alumni like Krishna S (now a Senior Research Engineer at Google DeepMind) recall how the "research platform" IEEE UVCE offered was exactly what the standard curriculum was missing. For many, the journey to a PhD or a top-tier R&D job began with a nervous presentation at Kagada.

The Next 25 Years

As we look back at 20+ years of Kagada, we see a legacy that has grown from a single room of paper presentations to a multi-track national conference supported by advanced labs like MARVEL and global alumni networks.

The vision for the future is clear: to continue fostering a spirit of inquiry. With initiatives like the "Ottige Kaliyona" outreach program and "Food for Cause" integrated into the fest, Kagada is teaching students that research isn't just about high-impact factors; it's about high societal impact.

Here is to the next 25 years of questioning, exploring, and innovating. Kagada is not just an event; it is the heartbeat of UVCE's intellectual curiosity.

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