Dr. Anil Gupta and Dr. Manjul Bhargava honoured with Lifetime Achievement and Personality of the Year 2024 awards respectively

Leading private and public institutions from across India recognised for excellence in various categories.

NEW DELHI, 18 October 2024: FICCI celebrated outstanding achievements in India's higher education sector at the FICCI Higher Education Excellence Awards 2024. The ceremony, held during the 19th FICCI Higher Education Summit, recognized institutions and individuals who contributed significantly to the field. The awards spanned multiple categories, showcasing excellence across India's diverse higher education landscape.

Mr. Azim Premji, Founder Chairman, Wipro Limited and Chancellor, Azim Premji University, received the prestigious Legendary Institution Builder award. He is a globally respected business leader, philanthropist and has been a visionary in reshaping India’s educational landscape. Mr Premji has made significant contributions to public education, development, and policy reform in rural India, fostering long-term societal change.

Prof. (Dr.)  Anil Gupta, a Professor from IIM-Ahmedabad and Padma Shri recipient, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Anil Gupta is a distinguished scholar, environmentalist, and Founder, Honeybee Network, which promotes grassroots innovation and sustainable development in rural communities. A Professor at IIM Ahmedabad, Dr. Gupta has spent decades mentoring innovators, protecting traditional knowledge, and empowering rural entrepreneurs, bridging the gap between formal science and local creativity.

Prof. (Dr.) Manjul Bhargava, a Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University and Padma Bhushan recipient was named Personality of the Year 2024. Dr. Manjul Bhargava is a world-renowned mathematician and Fields Medalist, celebrated for his groundbreaking work in number theory, especially elliptic curves and quadratic fields. He has been instrumental in India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, promoting critical thinking in mathematics education and inspiring global educational reforms with his interdisciplinary approach.

The institutional categories recognised excellence across various domains. The New Delhi Institute of Management won in the private sector for Excellence in Creating Employment, while the National Institute of Technology, Meghalaya secured the public sector award. Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, led in the Globalisation of Education category, with Parul University receiving a Special Jury Recognition.

In the Excellence in Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship category, Vellore Institute of Technology and Anand Agricultural University won in the private and public sectors, respectively, with Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya earning a Special Jury Recognition.

For Excellence in Institutional Social Responsibility, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research won the award in the private sector and Gondwana University, Gadchiroli, in the public sector.

The University of the Year - Emerging category honoured Manipal Academy of Higher Education, won in the private sector, and Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, in the public sector. For University of the Year - Emerging, Shiv Nadar University and Central University of Haryana won in the private and public sectors, respectively, with Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology receiving a Special Jury Recognition.

Ms Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, highlighted the significance of the awards: "These accolades are a testament to the rapid evolution and growing global prominence of India's higher education sector. These awards reflect our commitment to fostering a globally competitive, locally relevant education ecosystem, and capable of nurturing the talent that will drive India's economic growth and social development."

The FICCI Higher Education Excellence Awards 2024 serve as a barometer for progress in India's education sector, showcasing institutions at the forefront of implementing the National Education Policy 2020. By honouring excellence across various categories and sectors, these awards underscore the collaborative effort between public and private institutions in elevating India's higher education standards. As the country aims to increase its Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education to 50% by 2035, the achievements celebrated at this event highlight the sector's readiness to meet this ambitious goal while fostering innovation, employability, and global engagement.