CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Under the PM-USHA MERU Project, the Ministry of Higher Education, Government of India has provided financial assistance of ₹100 crore each to 35 selected universities across the country to enhance facilities for research and innovation.
As part of this initiative, the Government of India organized a two-day workshop on April 30 and May 1, 2025, in Delhi, focusing on the four key pillars of NEP 2020 — Accountability, Accessibility, Participation, and Capability.
During this workshop, discussions were held on 12 key themes aimed at strengthening India’s educational landscape. One of these themes — Research, Innovation, and International Collaboration — led to the formation of a cluster of five universities:
Barkatullah University, Bhopal
Dibrugarh University, Assam
Bundelkhand University, Jhansi
University of Mysore, Mysuru
Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
In continuation of this initiative, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, on November 4, 2025, signed MoUs under the PM-USHA MERU Scheme with the following universities:
University of Mysore, Mysuru
Samrat Vikramaditya University, Ujjain
Dibrugarh University, Assam
The event witnessed the participation of several eminent academic leaders including Prof. N.K. Lokanath, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore; Prof. Arpan Bhardwaj, Vice-Chancellor of Samrat Vikramaditya University, Ujjain; and from Dibrugarh University, Prof. Dev Kumar Chakravarty, Prof. Ankur Bharali, and Prof. Chandan Sharma.
Representing Barkatullah University were Prof. S.K. Jain, Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. Anil Sharma, Registrar, who formally signed the agreements. Barkatullah University entered into a bilateral MoU with Dibrugarh University and a tripartite MoU with Samrat Vikramaditya University and the University of Mysore.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. N.K. Lokanath termed the MoUs highly beneficial, emphasizing their importance in promoting academic research and cultural development among partner universities. Prof. Arpan Bhardwaj also described the agreements as significant and supportive for all institutions, highlighting the focus on innovation and research.
From Dibrugarh University, Prof. Ankur Bharali and Prof. Dev Kumar Chakravarty expressed that these MoUs would prove to be meaningful and fruitful collaborations.
Prof. S.K. Jain, Vice-Chancellor of Barkatullah University, described the MoUs as highly constructive and assured that various academic and collaborative activities would be organized under their framework.
Also present on the occasion were Prof. Uday Singh from Samrat Vikramaditya University and Barkatullah University’s Deans and faculty members — Prof. Ragini Gothalwal, Prof. Neeraj Gaur, Prof. Anshuja Tiwari, and Prof. Ruchi Ghosh, who shared detailed insights about their respective faculties.
A vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Anil Sharma, Registrar of Barkatullah University.
The program was organized by Prof. Vipin Vyas, Dr. R.K. Garg, and Dr. Rekha Khandya of the PM-USHA Committee, and coordinated by Dr. Rupali Shewalkar, MoU Coordinator.
Deans, Heads of Departments, and faculty members of Barkatullah University, Bhopal, were present at the event.
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