Rs.5 Lakh Endowment Established for “Dr. G.P. Rao – Academic Excellence Award” at University Business School, Panjab University, Chandigarh

Chandigarh, September 29, 2026: In a significant initiative to recognise meritorious students, Anil Kohli, Secretary Spandan and former Managing Director, Alpha Drugs, Pratap Aggarwal, Treasurer Spandan and Managing Director, IDISand Kuldeep Kaul, alumnus of the 1976 batch of UBS today presented a cheque of Rs.5 Lakh to the Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, towards the creation of an endowment fund for instituting the “Dr. G.P. Rao – Academic Excellence Award” at the University Business School (UBS), Panjab University.
The award will be presented to the Topper of MBA (Human Resource) First Year at UBS, beginning from the academic session 2026–27. It carries a cash prize of 30,000 rupees, to be awarded annually from the endowment.
The initiative is being supported by Spandan NGO founded by Late Dr G.P.Rao with the objective of encouraging merit and recognising outstanding performance among students of University Business School. The award has been named in honour of Dr. G.P. Rao, revered faculty member of the department, commemorating his contribution and association with the University Business School, Panjab university. Kuldeep Kaulshared the philosophy of Dr. G. P. Rao, who believed that business and management should have a humane approach. According to him, management should care for its employees and other stakeholders with the same concern and responsibility that a mother shows towards her family.
The cheque was presented to the Vice-Chancellor in the presence of Prof. Y. P. Verma, Registrar, Panjab University, Prof. Meena Sharma, Chairperson, University Business School, Prof Deepak Kapur, Prof Parmjit Kaur and Prof. Navdeep Kaur.
Vice- Chancellor and Registrar expressed their appreciation for the generous contribution, stating that such initiatives by alumni and industry partners provide meaningful encouragement to students and help foster a culture of achievement at UBS. They appreciated Spandan and the donors for establishing a lasting mechanism to recognise student merit.
Prof. Meena Sharma, Chairperson, University Business School, expressed her sincere gratitude to Anil Kohli, Pratap Aggarwal and Kuldeep Kaul, stating that such initiatives by alumni, revered faculty, well-wishers and industry partners provide meaningful encouragement to students and help foster a culture of achievement at UBS. She appreciated Spandan and the donors for establishing a lasting mechanism to recognise student merit.