Analytica 2026: Scale with Intelligence: A Bold Step Towards a Data-driven Future

"The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight." - Carly Fiorina

Intelligence Met Impact During The Analytica 2026 at CU UP:

Data is no longer just a business tool but has become the language of the future, and for three days, Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, became the place where that language was spoken, debated, and put into action.

Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, in collaboration with SAS, hosted Analytica 2026: Scale with Intelligence - a three-day event that brought together industry leaders, analysts, students, and innovators under one roof. The event was not just a conference. It was a statement that CU UP is serious about preparing its students for a world that runs on data, AI, and intelligent decision-making.

Day 1: A Purposeful Beginning:

The event started on a high note with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and a soulful Saraswati Vandana, which set a moment for a purposeful & grounded tone before the conversations turned futuristic. Prof. (Dr.) Thipendra P Singh, Pro Vice Chancellor, Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, delivered the inaugural address, & shortly after, the inauguration of the ‘SAS AI & Data Science Labs’ marked a significant establishment of a pioneer infrastructure investment for a future-ready learning.

What were the important topics discussed by the Industry experts?

Our Guest of Honour, Mr. Vikas Awasthi, Enterprise Agile Coach, Cognizant, Noida, addressed the topic "Analytics to Intelligent Flow: How AI Is Changing the Way We Build," & opened the door to deeper thinking. It was followed by the Industry Panel on AI - Quantum Bharat, which explored:

• The roadmap for building a skilled quantum workforce in India.

• Startup acceleration and the role of changing as well as newer tech ecosystems.

• Setting up Centres of Excellence (COEs) for sustained innovation.

The panel featured Mr. Shubham Chatterji (Head - India & Hong Kong (SAS Education)), Mr. Prashant Rai, Mr. Sunil Bharadwaj (Analytics Consultant - Education, SAS, India), Mr. Dipen Shah (Vice President, Nupeak), and was moderated by Mr. Vikas Awasthi (Enterprise Agile Coach, Cognizant, Noida). The discussion was candid, futuristic, and deeply relevant to where India's tech economy is heading.

What Else Took Place on Day 1?

The Orientation and Kickstart of HACK ECLIPSE - 72-hour hackathon, anchored by Mr. Pankaj and Dr. Ravi Sharma, gave participants a clear runway for coding the future’s betterment.

Alongside this, two competitions ran simultaneously:

• Poster Presentation on Viksit Bharat 2047, judged by our esteemed faculties by Prof. Ashutosh Bajpai, Prof. Anand Kumar Mishra, and Prof. Brijendra Singh Yadav.

• Data Science White Paper Competition, evaluated Dr. Sunil Bharadwaj (Analytics Consultant - Education, SAS, India) and Dr. Amit K. Khare.

Both competitions drew impressive entries that reflected strong research thinking and analytical depth from the student community.

The day was filled with more groundbreaking events lined up. A workshop on Analytics in Health Care, led by Mr. Dipen Shah, provide students a brief understanding of how data is quietly transforming patient outcomes and clinical decisions & parallel to this, a ‘Workshop on Analytics in Agriculture & Social Benefits’ was led by Mr. Prashant Rai, connected the dots between data science and its impact across India's farming communities, and how it helps farmers to yield crops & make the most out of it.

Rounding off the workshop track, Mr. Sunil Bhardwaj led another important workshop on Analytics in Banking, which provided our students with the knowledge of how financial institutions are using intelligent data models to manage risk, personalise services, and bring growth. Remember how online banking detects fraud transitions and warns you.

The interviews for Internship & PPO, held at the Placement Cell led by Ms. Mamta (HR, Nupeak), provided real opportunities that bridged the gap between learning and how to land a job for students with a goal to conquer the corporate world.

Day 2: Industry Meets Academia:

Day 2 shifted the energy from inspiration to application with the HR Analytics Panel, which opened the floor to some of the most pressing questions in modern workforce management & the topics were: ‘AI-powered workforce decisions’, ‘employee experience through data’, ‘future talent readiness’, and ‘the ethical side of using AI in people management’.

Panellists included:

• Mr. Deepak Ahuja, General Manager, ONGC.

• Mr. Arun Kumar Singh, the Head-HR of Shriram General Insurance Company Limited.

• Mr. Mukesh Prasad, Chief General Manager (E&T), Head Infocom & Engineering Services, ONGC.

• Mr. Akshay Dixit, Analytics Consultant, SAS India.

What Other Industry Sessions Were Held?

Day 2 afternoon featured a strong lineup of industry-led sessions that were practical, career-focused, and straight to the point:

• ‘Start Early on Your Skills to Stay Well on a Better Career Trajectory’ led by expert Mr. Arun Kumar Singh, the Head-HR of Shriram General Insurance Company Limited.

• ‘The Corporate Playbook: When Academic Excellence Meets Organisational Reality’ led by expert Mr. Deepak Ahuja (General Manager, ONGC).

• ‘Analytics in Energy: Oil & Gas’ led by expert Mr. Mukesh Prasad (Chief General Manager (E&T), Head Infocom & Engineering Services, ONGC).

• ‘Physical & Mental Well-Being to Get a Greater Career in the Era of AI’ led by expert Mr. Arun Kumar Singh, the Head-HR of Shriram General Insurance Company Limited.

• ‘Resilience in Action: Balancing Self-Priorities and Long-Term Goals’ led by expert Mr. Deepak Ahuja (General Manager, ONGC).

• ‘Healthcare Analytics’ led by expert Mr. Ajay Tomar.

Each session offered a unique lens, be it navigating from a corporate career, staying mentally resilient, or understanding how analytics is reshaping the energy and healthcare sectors.

Masterclass was amongst the most talked about:

Dr. Sunil Bharadwaj, Principal Analytics Consultant - Education, SAS, and Mr. Akshay Dixit, Analytics Consultant, SAS India, conducted an exclusive SAS analytics masterclass - giving students exclusive exposure to tools that professionals use every day & the day concluded with a important placement talk and an industry connect session led by Mr. Shubham Chatterji (Head - India & Hong Kong, SAS Education), and Mr. Arun Kumar Singh, the Head-HR of Shriram General Insurance Company Limited which helped connect students directly with hiring perspectives and career pathways, so that they must learn the nuance of industry requirements & perspective of it.

Day 3: The Decider, Where Ideas Turned Into Impactful Results:

The last day of the Analytica 2026: Scale with Intelligence event was an important one, as it was the day of judgment of numerous efforts. It started with a crucial panel discussion on the ‘Application of AI & Analytics in Business’ which was led by Mr. Satyajit Dwivedi, Regional Director, Customer Advisory, SAS, and Dr. Sunil Bharadwaj, Analytics Consultant - Education, SAS India, moderated by Dr. Himanshu Tripathi, & the topics that were discussed were:

• AI-driven business transformation.

• Predictive analytics commercial growth.

• Intelligent decision-making in Enterprises.

• Future of AI, Data & Competitive Advantage.

Who Won HackEclipse 2026?

The final day of the HackEclipse 2026, which was a 72-hour hackathon, saw the top 8 teams compete rigorously for the prize pool & consecutively present their solutions, which were evaluated by Dr. Sunil Bharadwaj (Analytics Consultant - Education, SAS, India) & Mr. Akshay Dixit (Enterprise Agile Coach, Cognizant, Noida). The presentations showcased the efforts to bring real-world problem-solving and technical depth.

The proud winners were:

• Team PhantomX, CU with First Prize.

• Team ankanb2006, CU UP with Second Prize.

• Team Tech Beez, IIT Madras, with Third Prize.

Awards were presented by Mr. Pankaj, Digital Marketing, SAS, and Dr. Ravi Sharma, Academic Consultant, SAS Institute - a fitting close to three days of hard work and brilliant ideas.

Why was Analytica 2026 at CU UP important for everyone?

Analytica 2026: Scale with intelligence was not just an event but a proof of what happens when a university commits to more than classroom learning. From the inauguration of the SAS AI & Data Science Labs to HackEclipse 2026 - HR analytics panels with industry leaders to a masterclass with SAS professionals - every element of this event was designed to close the gap between what students learn and what the industry actually needs.

At Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, the focus is clear: here every student will be turned into graduates who’ll be not just degree holders, but thinkers, builders, and problem-solvers ready for India's quick-changing digital economy and will contribute to the Viksit Bharat 2047 mission.

FAQs:

What was Analytica 2026?

Analytica 2026: Scale with Intelligence was a three-day event organised by Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, in collaboration with SAS, to bring focus on AI, data science, analytics, and innovation.

Who were the key speakers at Analytica 2026?

The event honored senior professionals from ONGC, SAS India, Shriram General Insurance, and Cognizant, among others. Key speakers included Mr. Vikas Awasthi, Mr. Deepak Ahuja, Mr. Arun Kumar Singh, Mr. Mukesh Prasad, Mr. Satyajit Dwivedi, and Dr. Sunil Bharadwaj & other distinguished guests.

What was HackEclipse 2026?

HackEclipse 2026 was a 72-hour hackathon held as part of Analytica 2026, where student teams competed to build data-driven solutions & a prize pool of 1,35,000. Team PhantomX from CU won the first prize.

What is the SAS AI & Data Science Lab all about?

The ‘SAS AI & Data Science Lab’, inaugurated during Analytica 2026, is an advanced facility at CU UP designed to provide students direct access to industry-grade analytics tools and environments, so that they can learn what they need to, to work in an industry that will be driven by AI & Data.

What is the connection between Analytica 2026 and Viksit Bharat 2047?

Several sessions and competitions at Analytica 2026 were themed around Viksit Bharat 2047, which aligned students' innovation and research with India's broader national development goals, students were educated about the bigger picture of the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

The Future is now here - Where Are You?

Three days, industry experts & one clear message that the future belongs to those who understand data and know how to act on it & that is what Analytica 2026: scale with intelligence event at Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, has shown to all, along with this it also showed that the university is not waiting for the future to arrive but is actively building the talent, infrastructure, and mindset to lead it.

Be a part of an institution where intelligence is nurtured and ideas find real direction, then explore programs at CU UP today. Visit - www.culko.in