Bathinda, February 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Central University of Punjab (CU Punjab), Bathinda, celebrated its 17th Foundation Day with a grand ceremonial event under the patronage of Chancellor Prof. Jagbir Singh and the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari. Padma Shri Prof. Harsh K. Gupta, Emeritus Scientist, CSIR-NGRI, Hyderabad, graced the occasion as Chief Guest, while Prof. S. A. Kori, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Andhra Pradesh, attended as Guest of Honour.
The ceremony celebrated the achievements of faculty, staff, scientists, and students across disciplines.
The programme began with the University Anthem and Vande Mataram, followed by a presentation on the University’s 17-year journey by Prof. Felix Bast.
In his Foundation Day address, Padma Shri Prof. Prof. Harsh K. Gupta shared his journey in Earth Sciences and highlighted key contributions to India’s geophysical research. He spoke about setting up a modern seismological observatory in Hyderabad, studying earthquake science, and discovering the thick crust beneath the Himalaya–Tibet region.
Prof. Gupta also recalled his experience of successful establishment of Dakshin Gangotri in Antarctica, securing India’s strong presence in polar research. He also spoke about India’s indigenous Tsunami Early Warning System and emphasized building an earthquake-resilient society. He encouraged students to pursue science with dedication and social responsibility.
Guest of Honour Prof. S. A. Kori and Special Guest Prof. Ratan Gupta praised the achievements of the Central University of Punjab and expressed hope that it will further strengthen interdisciplinary research, innovation, collaborations, and mentorship of emerging HEIs.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, in his address, stated that the tireless efforts of CU Punjab fraternity has earned 77th Rank (University Category) in NIRF 2025 and 601-800 Rank Global Rank Band (Overall Category) in THE World Universities Rankings 2026.
Prof. Tiwari emphasized the role of universities in transforming knowledge into wisdom, promoting green development, encouraging interdisciplinary research, and nurturing “T-shaped” graduates equipped with critical thinking, creativity, and ethical values. Reflecting on the University’s 17-year journey, he urged university fraternity to collectively work towards a sustainable and impactful vision for the next decade.
Chancellor Prof. Jagbir Singh congratulated the University community and emphasized value-based education rooted in Indian knowledge traditions. Applauding university initiative to commence the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Centre and the Centre for Partition and Atrocity Studies, he underscored the importance of preserving heritage and promoting ethical, socially responsible education.
The event featured foundation day award ceremony to recognize contributions of university fraternity in excellence in academics, research, and institutional service.
The Chancellor’s Award for Best Ph.D. Student was presented to Mr. Naresh Prajapati (Department of Law). The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Best PG Student (Male) was conferred upon Mr. Atul Gaur (Department of Environment Sciences and Technology), while Ms. Shuchi Arora (Department of Law) received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Best PG Student (Female).
The Best Teacher Award was bestowed upon Prof. Amandeep Kaur (Department of Computer Science and Technology). Best Non-Teaching Employee Award was conferred to Mr. Amrik Singh (UDC) in the Administrative Category, Er. Puneet Singh (J.E. Civil) in the Technical Category, and Mr. Iqbal Singh (Security Inspector) in the Supportive Category.
The CU Punjab Outstanding Research Award – 2025 was presented to Dr. Rahul Deshmukh (Department of Pharmacology) in the Science category and Prof. Anand Thakur in Social Sciences. Additionally, 26 faculty members were honoured with the CU Punjab Faculty Award for publishing in high cumulative impact factor journals and securing major research grants.
The recipients included Dr. Rahul Deshmukh, Dr. Baljinder Singh, Dr. Puneet Kumar, Dr. Randhir Singh, Dr. Krishna Kanta Haldar, Dr. Hari Krishna Reddy, Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Dr. Achchhe Lal Sharma, Dr. Suresh Thareja, Dr. Ashok Kumar, Dr. Vikram Deep Monga, Dr. Vinod Kumar, Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Dr. Balachandar Vellingiri, Dr. Ujjawal, Dr. Satwinder Singh, Dr. Jasvinder Singh Bhatti, Dr. Sabyasachi Senapati, Dr. Amit Singh, Dr. Mukesh Kumar Yadav, Dr. Pramod Kumar Kushawaha, Prof. Aklank Jain, Prof. Raj Kumar, Dr. Anand Thakur, Dr. Sandeep Kaur, and Dr. Rajinder Kumar, recognizing their outstanding academic and research contributions.
Ms. Sneha Kumari (Pharmacology) and Ms. Rishika Dhapola (Pharmacology) were conferred with Student Research Award among Ph.D. scholars in Sciences, while Mr. Abdul Wasi Popalzay (South and Central Asian Studies) was honoured in the Social Sciences and Humanities category. Special Appreciation Awards were also conferred upon women scientists including Dr. Arti Sharma, Dr. Shruti Kanga, Dr. M. Jhansi Lakshi, and Dr. Kanwaljit Kaur.
Additionally, eight faculty members—Dr. Rubal Kanozia, Dr. Chhavi Garg, Prof. Sunil Mittal, Dr. Raj Kumar, Dr. Jittendra Kumar Pattanaik, Dr. Deepak Kumar Chauhan, Dr. Sandeep Kaur, and Dr. Kulin Kumar Joshi—were appreciated for securing consultancies, recognizing their notable academic and professional contributions during the calendar year 2025.
The celebrations concluded with a vibrant cultural programme featuring music, dance, and thematic performances on socially relevant issues. Dr. Vijay Sharma, Registrar, delivered the formal vote of thanks. The event ended with the National Anthem and witnessed enthusiastic participation from faculty, staff, and students, marking another proud milestone in CU Punjab’s illustrious journey.
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