Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur Universities to Introduce Chancellor’s Medal; Rs 10 Lakh Grant for Each Institution
Pune, 2th September 2026: In a significant initiative aimed at encouraging holistic excellence among students, the Savitribai Phule Pune University, University of Mumbai and Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University will introduce the prestigious Chancellor’s Medal.
The initiative has been launched under the guidance of Maharashtra Governor and Chancellor of State Universities, Jishnu Dev Varma. To support its implementation, the Governor on Wednesday presented representative cheques of ₹10 lakh each to the vice-chancellors of the three universities at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai.
The Governor also inaugurated the Institute of Higher and Digital Learning: Industry-Academia Collaboration for Improving Employability, an initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration between academic institutions and industries to enhance students’ employability.
Governor Varma said that the Chancellor’s Medal should not be limited to academic achievements alone. The award should recognise students demonstrating excellence across multiple fields, including leadership, innovation, sports, cultural activities, social responsibility and exceptional contributions to their universities.
He further emphasised the need for universities to establish transparent, fair and merit-based criteria for selecting recipients of the medal.
The primary objective of the initiative is to foster healthy competition among students, inspire them to set ambitious goals and motivate them to pursue excellence in diverse areas beyond the classroom.
Governor’s Secretary Dr Prashant Narnavare said the vision behind the Chancellor’s Medal is to create a symbol of all-round excellence. The recognition is expected to celebrate outstanding achievements not only in classrooms and laboratories but also on sports fields, cultural platforms, social service initiatives and innovation.
The programme was attended by Dr Suresh Gosavi, Vice-Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University; Dr Ravindra Kulkarni, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mumbai; and Dr Manali Kshirsagar, Vice-Chancellor of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, along with pro-vice-chancellors, directors, deans and other senior university officials.
The introduction of the Chancellor’s Medal is expected to provide students with an additional platform for recognition and encourage a culture of comprehensive achievement across Maharashtra’s higher education institutions.
