Lucknow – The 12th Convocation Ceremony of Dr. Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University was held in the state capital, where students were conferred degrees and medals for their academic excellence.
The ceremony was presided over by Uttar Pradesh Governor and Chancellor of State Universities, Anandiben Patel, who extended her congratulations to all graduating students. On the occasion, 1,803 students were awarded degrees, while 143 meritorious students received 166 medals, including 76 medals for women and 67 medals for men. Notably, 27 differently-abled students were also among the medal recipients. The Governor felicitated the awardees and digitally uploaded the degrees to DigiLocker.
The Chief Guest, S. Govindaraj, Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of India, in his address, highlighted that according to the World Health Organization, around 1.3 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. He praised the university’s efforts in inclusive education and rehabilitation, mentioning that its Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Centre has benefited over 7,021 persons with disabilities, providing 5,273 free artificial limbs. He further informed that modern prosthetics using 3D printing technology had been introduced, and that the university has launched innovative initiatives like planting fragrant plants on campus for visually impaired students. For the first time, a special gold medal was instituted for differently-abled students.
Special Guest Narendra Kashyap, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Backward Classes Welfare, said Uttar Pradesh is the first state in the country to run two universities dedicated to persons with disabilities, including Jagadguru Rambhadracharya University in Chitrakoot. He lauded Dr. Shakuntala Mishra University’s progress in just 17 years, citing its achievements in research, Braille publications, sign language centers, barrier-free stadiums, and free hostel and food facilities for differently-abled students. He also highlighted that 574 students, including 31 differently-abled, secured placements in reputed institutions, with a recent job fair on August 12, 2025, providing 172 employment offers to differently-abled candidates through 25 companies.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sanjay Singh noted that the university is steadily advancing with 10 faculties and 35 departments, including newly established ones in Pharmacy, Engineering & Technology, Sanskrit, and Yoga. He shared that in the past year, 14 new policies have been introduced, covering areas such as sports, hostels, academic regulations, library rules, and consultancy guidelines. The university achieved a 162nd rank in the Nature Index 2025, and stood second nationally in overall research output, with notable rankings of 139th in Chemistry and 59th in Biological Sciences. The university has also produced 1,64,757 Braille pages, launched a Talking Book Studio, and its students have won 60 medals in para-sports this year.
Adding to its achievements, the university has been selected by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, as a coaching center for UPSC aspirants.
The ceremony witnessed the participation of members of the General Council, Executive Council, Academic Council, deans, heads of departments, principals of affiliated colleges, faculty members, staff, graduating students, and their parents. The program was conducted by Dr. Kaushiki Singh.
