Dharmendra Pradhan Chairs High-Level Meeting With AMU, JMI And MANUU VCs To Boost Academic Excellence And ‘Viksit Bharat’ Vision

In a significant move to strengthen the institutional framework of India’s premier central universities, Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a high-level review meeting today focusing on the progress, achievements and future roadmap of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU).

The meeting, however, brought together the Additional Secretary (Central Universities), the Vice Chancellors of JMI, MANUU and AMU, the Chairperson of the NCMEI, and other senior officials.

During the discussions, participants emphasised aligning these historic institutions with the national vision of Viksit Bharat, underscoring their vital role in nation-building.

Amping Up Academic Excellence

The meeting, described as highly productive and positive, focused on advancing academic excellence, research, innovation and holistic institutional development.

The discussions further highlighted the indispensable role of minority educational institutions in promoting inclusive education, fostering social harmony and providing equitable opportunities to all sections of society.

Addressing the core agenda, senior officials reiterated the Government of India’s steadfast commitment to supporting these institutions in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), stressing the importance of continuous dialogue, policy-level cooperation and institutional reforms.

Prof Shahid Akhter’s Dual Role Adds Strategic Depth

Bringing a unique blend of legal and administrative expertise to the table was Professor (Dr) Shahid Akhter.

Currently serving as the Officiating Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI), Prof Akhter held detailed discussions with the Education Minister on the empowerment, stability and holistic development of minority educational institutions across the country, describing their work as crucial to building an educated, skilled and harmonious society.

Just weeks ago, in a move that strengthened AMU’s apex governing body, President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed Prof Akhter as a President’s Nominee on the Executive Council of Aligarh Muslim University.

A scholar from the Department of Management at Jamia Millia Islamia, Prof Akhter brings strong expertise in governance, administration and ethical management to AMU’s highest decision-making body.

Leadership From JMI, AMU and MANUU

The Vice Chancellors of the three central universities also actively participated in the deliberations:

• Prof Mazhar Asif (Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia): Prof Asif has actively emphasised the role of Indian languages in decolonising minds shaped by the colonial past. Speaking about the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, he has consistently called for prioritising the Indian Knowledge System (IKS), stating, “A false sense of modernity has a toxic effect on the minds of people. We need to rectify this immediately.”
• Prof Syed Ainul Hasan (Vice Chancellor, MANUU): A recipient of the Padma Shri, Prof Hasan is a Professor of Persian and Central Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Under his leadership, MANUU is, however, actively focusing on expanding its campus, introducing new courses for women and entering into strategic MoUs for the sharing of knowledge, resources and research activities.
• Prof Naima Khatoon (Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University): In a historic milestone, Prof Khatoon became the first woman Vice Chancellor of AMU after 123 years of its existence. Her appointment, which was recently upheld by the Supreme Court, marked a new era of inclusivity in one of India’s oldest residential universities.

The Way Forward

The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to further strengthen these institutions as robust and effective pillars of India’s inclusive development.

With Prof Shahid Akhter bridging policy and governance at the intersection of the Education Ministry, NCMEI and AMU, and the Vice Chancellors driving institutional reforms, the roadmap for Viksit Bharat is, however, being shaped with academic excellence and social harmony at its core.

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