Educate, Enable, Empower
Educate, Enable, Empower
Millions of Indigenous Learners. One Integrated Pathway.
It’s not a lack of potential — it’s a lack of opportunity.
KISS is a school, college, and university that delivers an integrated model of education combined with holistic support. It enables first-generation learners from marginalised Indigenous communities to access quality education while remaining deeply rooted in their Indigenous traditions, culture, and knowledge systems. With campuses across multiple districts and outreach to 64 tribal communities, KISS creates pathways to break inter-generational poverty and social exclusion. Through a holistic, rights-based approach, its programmes align with the Sustainable Development Goals and complement state and national priorities in education, gender equality, sports, livelihood generation, and health—empowering Indigenous youth to shape their own futures.
Areas
Of Work
Every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and build a future with dignity. Our work focuses on enabling Indigenous children and youth to become confident, independent individuals and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Livelihood & Skill Development
Supporting the goals of Skill India and Digital India, we equip students with vocational, digital and career-ready skills that open pathways to meaningful work, financial independence and dignity.
Read more →
KISS in the Spotlight
Recognised globally for innovation, impact, and inclusive education—here's how KISS continues to inspire the world.
Impact That Endures
receiving free education, accommodation, food and healthcare at our Bhubaneswar campus
learning across KISS Satellite Centres in Odisha
empowered to lead independent, self-reliant lives across diverse fields
impacted through our model of holistic tribal education
Education for All
Foundation
Learning
Free, holistic education from early childhood to Grade 12.
Indigenous
University
India's largest tribal university advancing inclusive higher education.
Education
Outreach
Taking quality education to remote tribal communities.
Global
Solidarity
Building cross-border Indigenous partnerships worldwide.
Stories That Matter
Real journeys of resilience and transformation—each story reflects how opportunity can reshape lives and communities.
Together,
We go further
Gold Rating in QS I-Gauge University Rankings (KISS DU, 2026)
50th Overall India Rank & 1001-1500 Overall Global Rank in KISS-DUs first global ranking appearance in Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025 Global, with high rankings in categories like Gender Equality (101-200th).
Platinum Band in India’s Green Rankings & Academia Rankings (KISS, 2025)
Platinum Band in the Mental Health and Wellbeing (MHW) Rankings (KISS DU, 2025)
Platinum Band for India Academic Rankings by R World Institutional Ranking (KISS DU, 2025)
Platinum Band for Sustainable Institutions of India – Green Rankings by R World Institutional Ranking (KISS DU, 2025)
Platinum Band, Institution of Academic Excellence in Outcome Based Education Rankings by R World Institutional Ranking (KISS DU, 2025)
Platinum Band in India for ESER – Employability and Startup Ecosystem Excellence (KISS DU, 2025)
Platinum Band in India for Research Excellence (KISS DU, 2025)
National Rank 40, All India Private Rank 27 and State Rank 03 in the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) Best University Ranking (KISS DU, June 2025)
“A” Grade accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in its first cycle (KISS DU, March 2024)
Diamond Band for Mental Health and Wellbeing Rankings by R World Institutional Ranking (KISS DU, 2024)
KISS International Green Gown Awards for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Sustainability (KISS, 2023)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: KISS wins prestigious UNESCO King Sejong International Literacy Prize (2022)
Prof. Achyuta Samanta
Founder – KIIT & KISS
achyutasamanta.comProf. Achyuta Samanta is an Indian educationist, philanthropist, and founder of KIIT University and KISS Foundation. He has dedicated his life to providing free education to 80,000+ indigenous students, breaking cycles of poverty through holistic education.
KISS is a home for over 80,000 Indigenous youth from underserved communities, who are given holistic education and empowerment in a residential campus, free of cost.
*** While Scheduled Tribes is the official term recognized by the Government of India, the term Indigenous is used in global discourse. Thus, the two terms are used interchangeably across this website.