President Droupadi Murmu graces GNDU’s 50th Golden Jubilee convocation
Babushahi Bureau
Amritsar (Punjab), January 15, 2026: Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) on Thursday marked a historic milestone by successfully organising its 50th Golden Jubilee Convocation at the Golden Jubilee Convention Centre on the university campus, celebrating five decades of academic excellence, research and nation-building.
The landmark convocation was graced by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, who delivered an inspiring address urging students to serve the nation through knowledge, innovation, ethical values and compassion. The ceremony was held in the august presence of the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Chancellor of GNDU, Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria.
Welcoming the President and dignitaries, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Karamjeet Singh highlighted the university’s illustrious legacy, academic achievements and commitment to excellence in higher education, research and innovation.
On the occasion, the President conferred Honorary Doctorate Degrees (Honoris Causa) upon two eminent personalities—Dr. Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Member of Rajya Sabha, entrepreneur and philanthropist, for his outstanding contribution to society and nation-building, and Sh. Jasvir Gill, Chief Executive Officer of Alert Enterprise Inc., California (USA), for his exceptional global leadership in the technology sector. During the convocation, 17 medals, 176 undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and 258 Ph.D. degrees were awarded to deserving scholars.
In her address, President Murmu expressed pride that GNDU was established during the 500th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, whose teachings continue to guide the institution. She described Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s philosophy as a timeless legacy offering solutions to contemporary societal challenges.
Emphasising women empowerment, the President recalled Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s advocacy for gender equality and appreciated GNDU for reflecting this vision through a strong presence of women achievers at the convocation. “Empowering women with unbridled confidence is essential for societal harmony and national progress,” she said, while also expressing happiness over the rising participation of girl students in higher education.
Highlighting the true purpose of education, President Murmu stressed that learning goes beyond employment and carries a responsibility toward society. She urged graduates to uplift the marginalised and contribute meaningfully to national development. She also encouraged youth to seize opportunities emerging from India’s rapid growth in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, and called upon universities to strengthen academia–industry linkages and research ecosystems.
The President underlined that the next two decades will be crucial in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat, asserting that India’s future depends on youth driven by scientific temper, ethical conduct and a spirit of selfless service.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria termed it a moment of pride for the education sector that the President graced the Golden Jubilee Convocation. He noted that women now outnumber men among higher education achievers, reflecting India’s growing strength and progress. Recalling the university’s journey, he said GNDU has educated over 29 lakh students, including nearly 3,900 Ph.D. scholars, who continue to serve society across the globe.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Karamjeet Singh said GNDU has emerged as one of India’s premier public universities, holding Category-I status with the highest NAAC score of 3.85 (A++). He highlighted the university’s initiatives in AI-based and job-oriented programmes, entrepreneurship and skill development, startup incubation, digital transformation, global collaborations and inclusive education, along with its commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
The ceremony witnessed the conferral of degrees, diplomas and gold medals to meritorious students, marking a proud milestone in their academic journeys. Senior university officials, faculty members, scholars and distinguished guests attended the event.