At the 9th convocation ceremony of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mamta Pandit, highlighted the university’s academic growth, financial milestones, and increasing diversity, while emphasizing its commitment to integrating Indian Knowledge Systems into higher education.

Prof. Pandit stated that since its establishment in 1969, JNU has expanded substantially and now comprises 14 schools, nine special centres, and multiple programmes across disciplines. “The university now runs 80 PhD programmes, 49 master’s-level programmes, 13 bachelor’s-level programmes, seven certificate courses, three diplomas, and one postgraduate diploma,” she said. The current student population stands at around 9,100, with admissions this year exceeding 3,000, reflecting continued interest and over-subscription in its programmes.

Funding, Rankings, and Accreditation

The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the university’s financial stability and support from the central government. She noted that JNU has successfully raised a ₹70-crore corpus fund and continues to be completely funded by the Centre, making it one of the most affordable universities in India in terms of tuition and fees.

On the academic front, Pandit shared that JNU has successfully completed the third cycle of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation, earning an “A” grade. Additionally, the university has improved its National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking from 10 to 9, underscoring its consistent academic performance and research output.

Diversity and Inclusivity

Prof. Pandit thanked the central government for implementing policies that have enhanced diversity on campus. She highlighted initiatives such as the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), the National Education Policy (NEP), and the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) scheme, which have enabled students from 15 states to study at JNU. “All the reserved-category seats have been filled, and the cut-off for these categories is at par with the general category,” she said, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and meritocracy.

Indian Knowledge Systems and Specialized Centres

A significant portion of Pandit’s address focused on JNU’s integration of Indian civilisational knowledge into its courses. She emphasized that the university has actively incorporated Indic pedagogical wisdom and Indian languagesinto its curriculum. The VC announced the establishment of multiple centres under Project Trishul, aimed at merging traditional Indian knowledge with modern academic research in security and maritime studies. These include:

• Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Centre for Security and Strategic Studies
• Lachit Borphukan Special Centre for the Study of Hydro-strategic Architecture in Asia
• Raja Rajendra Chola Centre for Maritime Studies of the Bay of Bengal and Eastern Indo-Pacific

Pandit said that this focus has made JNU a hub for maritime and security studies, highlighting the relevance of historical and civilisational knowledge in contemporary policy and strategic research.

Innovation, Biotech, and Entrepreneurship

The Vice-Chancellor also spoke about JNU’s growing emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. The university recently inaugurated BioNest, a biotech incubator supported by a grant from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). This facility aims to foster innovation and startups in life sciences, complementing existing initiatives like the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC-JNUFI).

Philanthropy and Academic Chairs

Prof. Pandit acknowledged the contribution of philanthropists, highlighting a ₹10-crore donation from Jain businessmen to establish a Jain Chair, which will strengthen research and scholarship in Jain studies. She also noted the creation of an oral-history section within the history department, reflecting the university’s commitment to preserving and documenting diverse historical narratives.

Women in Leadership

Highlighting progress on gender inclusivity, the VC said that women’s participation in leadership roles has steadily increased. “When I took over, there were 19 per cent women in top positions. Today, that number stands at 27 per cent,” she said, noting the university’s efforts to promote equitable representation and empower female scholars.

Values and Vision

Prof. Pandit concluded her address by emphasizing the university’s adherence to its guiding principles, encapsulated in the “10 Ds”: democracy, development, deliberation, discussion, debate, diversity, difference, dissent, decentralisation, and dharma. She said these principles form the foundation of JNU’s approach to education, research, and public engagement, and reflect its ongoing mission to remain a leading institution of higher learning in India.

Through her address, the Vice-Chancellor reinforced JNU’s standing as a top-ranked, diverse, and research-oriented university that not only nurtures academic excellence but also promotes cultural and civilisational knowledge. She highlighted the university’s financial stability, growing infrastructure, and policy support, which collectively contribute to its position as a centre of academic and intellectual leadership in the country.