IKGPTU Awards Degrees to 1,644 Students at 15th Convocation; Punjab Governor Calls for Research, Innovation and Nation-Building

Jalandhar/Kapurthala, October 27, 2026: The 15th Convocation of I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University (IKGPTU), Kapurthala, was held on Tuesday. Governor of Punjab and Chancellor of the University, Gulab Chand Kataria joined the academic event as the Chief Guest. The ceremony celebrated the academic achievements of research scholars, postgraduate students and undergraduate students from various disciplines, who were conferred degrees.

The convocation commenced with the arrival of the Governor, followed by Vande Mataram, Shabad Gayan, the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony and the formal inauguration of the convocation. Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Arvind Kumar Bansal presented the Annual Report, followed by the conferment of Ph.D. degrees.

Addressing the degree recipients, Governor Punjab Gulab Chand Kataria congratulated and said that the purpose of education should not be limited to individual success but should also include contributing to the progress of society, the state and the nation. He encouraged students to uphold the values of honesty, discipline, excellence and social responsibility while remaining connected to their cultural roots. He also emphasised the role of youth in promoting entrepreneurship, generating employment, fostering scientific thinking and building a drug-free Punjab.

Appreciating the University's academic and research achievements, the Governor Punjab stressed the need to promote research and innovation in emerging technologies, strengthen collaboration with industry, and develop practical solutions to social and rural challenges.

Presenting the Annual Report, Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Arvind Kumar Bansal highlighted the University's achievements in academics, research and innovation. He informed the gathering that 1,094 research scholars from the fields of Engineering, Management, Pharmacy and Human Values were awarded Ph.D. degrees at the 15th Convocation. In addition, 281 postgraduate students and 269 undergraduate students were recognised for their academic achievements during the period from 2016 to 2023.

Highlighting the University's research accomplishments, Prof. (Dr.) Bansal stated that the University secured five patents during the preceding academic year. It also undertook three sponsored research projects with the support of three funding agencies, receiving grants amounting to approximately ₹63.9 lakh. Additionally, the University undertook four consultancy projects from two organisations, with a total value of approximately ₹1.78 lakh.

Sharing further achievements, the Vice-Chancellor stated that, according to the latest Scopus report, the University's total research publication count had reached 7,467. Of these, approximately 1,000 research papers were contributed by faculty members of the main campus and constituent campuses. During the academic year 2025–26, the University campuses published 118 research papers, including 52 SCI-indexed and 39 Scopus-indexed papers.

Registrar Dr. Navdeepak Sandhu presented the Vote of Thanks. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria; Prof. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Bathinda, and other members of the University's Board of Governors; members of the Academic Council; graduating students; parents; faculty members; and all distinguished guests whose collective efforts contributed to the successful organisation of the convocation.

The ceremony concluded with the convocation pledge administered by Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Arvind Kumar Bansal. The degree recipients reaffirmed their commitment to honesty, professional excellence, and service to society and the nation.