LUCKNOW – Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) held its 23rd Convocation Ceremony on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, where top-performing students were honored with gold, silver, and bronze medals. The faces of the jubilant students glowed with a golden aura, reflecting the fulfillment of their hard work and a palpable sense of responsibility to shape their future.
The highest honor, the Chancellor’s Gold Medal, was awarded to Nancy, a B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering student from Pranveer Singh Institute of Technology, Kanpur, for securing the top position across the university. She also received a check for ₹31,000 from Bank of Baroda. The Kamal Rani Varun Smriti Gold Medal was presented to Unnati Gaur of R.D. Engineering College, Ghaziabad, for her outstanding performance among all B.Tech female students from the Scheduled Caste category.
In total, 88 medals were awarded, including 37 gold, 26 silver, and 25 bronze. Additionally, 53,943 students received their degrees for various programs. Governor and Chancellor Anandiben Patel uploaded all the degrees to the DigiLocker platform via blockchain technology. A total of 86 students were also awarded their Ph.D. degrees. As the Chief Guest for the ceremony, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Science degree.
Governor Patel Urges Youth to Build a Developed India
In her address, Governor Anandiben Patel called the convocation a unique moment for students to assess their achievements. She expressed the university’s expectation that these graduates, now valuable human resources, would make a positive contribution to the nation’s progress.
The Governor noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi places immense trust in the nation’s youth, which is why he has invited their suggestions for the “Developed India 2047” vision. She praised AKTU’s excellent work in research and innovation, highlighting its support for key government initiatives such as Startup India, Stand-Up India, the Atal Innovation Mission, and Make in India.
She also urged the graduates to take a pledge to contribute to the nation’s progress and to support development in villages. Acknowledging the immense sacrifice of mothers, she asked each student to dedicate their medal to their mother upon returning home.
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s Inspirational Address
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s second astronaut, shared his inspiring journey with the students, calling the convocation a “launchpad” for their careers. He encouraged them to “believe in building and creating something new and impactful” that would help the country progress.
Shukla shared his experience of spending 20 days in orbit, describing the mental and physical challenges he faced. He spoke of moments of disappointment and fear but emphasized that his self-belief was what kept him going. He also highlighted that delays in his mission were not a waste of time but an opportunity for better preparation.
He left the students with six key mantras for success:
- Patience: Stay patient when life doesn’t go as planned.
- Focus: Stay focused on your goals amidst the noise.
- Flexibility: Be ready to adapt to new things when a plan doesn’t work.
- Collaboration: Always work with others.
- Courage: Always be brave.
- Enjoy the Journey: Find joy in the process.
He concluded his address by recalling Rakesh Sharma’s famous words, “Sare Jahan Se Achcha” (The best in the world) after viewing India from space. He then shared his own vision, saying he saw an “unafraid, ambitious, and forward-looking nation that dreams big.”
Awards and Initiatives Spotlight Innovation
The ceremony also honored faculty members and students for their exceptional contributions. Three teachers received the Academic Excellence Award: Prof. Arun Tiwari of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow; Dr. Anuj Kumar Sharma of the Centre for Advanced Studies; and Dr. Harish Chandra Upadhyay of the Government Engineering College, Sonbhadra.
In a move to foster innovation, students were recognized with Best Startup Awards in six categories:
- Accessibility: Saarthak Sisodiya (Impashake Solutions)
- Agriculture: Shubhankhar Chauhan and Atul Mishra (Urb Hydro Kisan)
- Health Innovation: Jayanti Tiwari (JJPK Innovation)
- Social Impact: Tejas Kumar Garg (Sovcu)
- Sustainability: Mohit (Pulse Wave Innovations)
- Women-Led Startup: Rozy Mendolia (Enlumed India)
- Tech Innovation: Dikshant Kumar (Innova Core Technologies)
Governor Patel also inaugurated a Smart Class at the Pahadpur village primary school, which was developed by the university. Additionally, two books were released during the event: ‘Bharatiya Sanskriti Ki Aatmsati Prakriti’ by Prof. Onkar Nath Singh and the university’s annual magazine, ‘Vimarsh.’
