Jaipur. The national jury for the Council of Architecture (CoA) Awards for Excellence 2026 commenced on Thursday at Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ), bringing together distinguished architects, academicians and experts from across the country to evaluate outstanding academic work presented by students from architecture institutions nationwide.
The two-day national event, being held on October 8 and 9, is organised by the Council of Architecture in collaboration with the School of Architecture and Design at Manipal University Jaipur. Around 220 students from architecture institutions across India are participating in the event along with their faculty members.
The projects shortlisted for the national jury have undergone a multi-level selection process, beginning at the institutional level, followed by zonal-level evaluation, before reaching the national stage for assessment by an expert jury.
Addressing the media, Prof. (Ar.) Kiran S. Mahajani, President of the Council of Architecture, said the annual national event aims to recognise emerging architectural talent and promote excellence in architectural education. He added that the initiative provides young architects with an important platform to showcase their academic work at the national level and interact with leading architects and academicians from across the country.
Prof. Mahajani emphasised that the initiative also enables students to learn from outstanding architectural projects being developed at institutions across India. The national jury will evaluate shortlisted architectural theses and architectural heritage documentation projects to select the winners.
The press conference was attended by Architect Naveen Kanithi, Vice-President of the Council of Architecture; Deepak Kumar, Registrar-Secretary, CoA; Prof. (Ar.) Jayshree Deshpande, Director, CoA-TRC; Prof. (Dr.) Pooja Lalit Kumar, Director of the School of Architecture and Design at MUJ; and Prof. (Dr.) Madhura Yadav, Dean of Student Welfare at MUJ.
Explaining the national jury process, Prof. (Ar.) Jayshree Deshpande, Director of CoA-TRC and Convenor of the event, said a structured and rigorous selection procedure is followed for the awards. Architectural talent is first identified at the college level, followed by zonal evaluation and a final assessment by the national jury.
She noted that the process allows students to compare their academic work with exemplary architectural projects from institutions across the country, encouraging learning, innovation and healthy academic competition.
Prof. (Dr.) Pooja Lalit Kumar, Director of the School of Architecture and Design at MUJ and Co-convenor of the event, said the school's students and faculty members had worked with dedication to ensure the successful organisation of the national event. She added that MUJ's world-class infrastructure and vibrant academic environment provide an appropriate platform for such a prestigious gathering, enabling participating students to showcase their creativity and academic capabilities while exploring new ideas.
Three Major Award Categories
The CoA Awards for Excellence recognise outstanding student achievements in research, design and documentation at different levels of architectural education. The awards also encourage meaningful interaction between academia and professional practice.
The 2026 awards feature three major categories:
Awards for Excellence in Architectural Thesis (AEAT): Recognising outstanding undergraduate architectural theses.
Students' Awards for Excellence in Documentation of Architectural Heritage (DAH): Honouring exceptional documentation and interpretation of India's architectural heritage.
Awards for Excellence in Post Graduate Thesis in Architecture (PGTA): Recognising significant postgraduate research and academic work in architecture.
The shortlisted projects are being assessed by a national jury comprising eminent architects. Evaluations are taking place at designated venues across the MUJ campus through academic and professional discussions.
An exhibition showcasing the participating students' work has also been organised as part of the event. It offers students, faculty members, architects and visitors an opportunity to explore emerging architectural ideas, perspectives and methodologies from different parts of the country.
The event will conclude on October 9 with an award ceremony, during which the winning students will be honoured in the presence of fellow participants, jury members, representatives of the Council of Architecture and distinguished members of the architectural fraternity.
The Council of Architecture was established by the Government of India under the Architects Act, 1972. It is responsible for regulating architectural education and professional practice in the country. Its responsibilities include maintaining the Register of Architects and overseeing recognised qualifications, standards of architectural education and professional practice.
By hosting the national jury, Manipal University Jaipur further reinforces its growing role as a national platform for academic excellence, professional engagement and industry collaboration in architecture and design.