“Our journey for the next five years will be guided by the vision of ‘From India to the World’. A grand, full-fledged IIM Nagpur campus will come up in Pune. The State Government has allotted 70 acres of land on a nominal lease of just ₹1. Once developed, IIM Nagpur will be the only IIM in the country to have such a large second full-fledged campus,” Dr Metri said.

Dr Metri was recently reappointed as Director of IIM Nagpur for another five-year term. He said one of his major goals during the second tenure would be to take IIM Nagpur into the world’s Top 100 business schools.

The Institute is also looking beyond Pune. Dr Metri said expansion in Goa is on the future roadmap, while global academic partnerships will be taken to a new level.

At present, IIM Nagpur has an academic collaboration with the University of Lille, France, including student mobility opportunities. Over the next five years, the Institute aims to build partnerships with 20 leading universities across continents, giving students opportunities to study at international campuses, gain global exposure and pursue dual-degree pathways.

“We want our students to experience the world, study on international campuses and earn globally relevant qualifications. Our aim is to build meaningful partnerships across continents,” Dr Metri said.

This global ambition forms part of IIM Nagpur’s newly announced Strategic Roadmap 2026–31. The roadmap includes multi-campus growth, a place among India’s Top 3 institutions in Executive Education, AI-driven management education, India-centric research, energy and climate leadership, entrepreneurship, and a larger role in the development of Maharashtra and Vidarbha. The Institute has also set its sights on entering the world’s Top 100 business schools and Asia’s Top 10.

 The roadmap seeks to position IIM Nagpur as a growth engine for Maharashtra and Vidarbha. The Institute plans to use its expertise in entrepreneurship, public policy, rural development and industry partnerships to contribute more directly to regional growth.

Initiatives such as IVDP 2.0 and the District Development Strategy (DDS) are expected to support rural transformation and investment-led development.

“Our responsibility cannot end at the classroom door. IIM Nagpur must contribute to job creation, regional transformation, clean energy, public policy, entrepreneurship and India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047,” Dr Metri said.

 Energy and climate action will be another important area in the coming years. IIM Nagpur plans to build on its Executive MBA in Energy Management with NPTI, engagement with ONGC Green Limited, and the proposed Centre of Excellence for Heat Resilience and Sustainable Cooling with NRDC.

The Institute will also take forward the second phase of campus development, its Net-Zero ambition, and the already operational solar power initiative.

70-acre Pune campus to drive next phase of growth

The proposed Pune campus at Moshi will be one of the biggest pillars of IIM Nagpur’s next phase. Dr Metri said the Maharashtra Government has allotted the 70-acre land on a ₹1 lease, while its estimated market value is more than ₹180 crore. He thanked the Chief Minister and Revenue Minister of Maharashtra for their support.

“Several IIMs have smaller satellite or extension centres, but our vision for Pune is fundamentally different,” Dr Metri said.

The Pune campus will focus on areas such as manufacturing, Industry 4.0, digital technologies, AI and IT management. Proposed academic offerings include an integrated BBA–MBA programme and a five-year BTech–MBA programme in collaboration with leading IITs.

“Pune gives us a unique opportunity to rethink management education and develop leaders who understand technology, management and industry as an integrated whole,” Dr Metri said.

Honorary Doctorate conferred on grassroots innovator Padma Shri Chintakindi Mallesham; industry leaders across sustainability, technology and manufacturing grace the ceremony

Hyderabad, July 4, 2026 — Anurag University celebrated its 3^rd Annual Convocation today, conferring degrees on 2,789 graduates across its schools of engineering, pharmacy, management, sciences and agriculture. The ceremony brought together graduating students, their families, faculty and a distinguished gathering of industry leaders to mark a defining milestone in the students’ academic journey.

The graduating class of 2,789 included 2,193 students from the Bachelor of Technology programme and 44 scholars who were awarded the Doctor of Philosophy. Degrees were also conferred across the Master of Business Administration (155), Master of Computer Applications (90), Bachelor of Pharmacy (88), Bachelor of Business Administration (74), and a range of postgraduate and doctoral programmes in pharmacy, technology, agriculture and management.

The University conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Padma Shri Chintakindi Mallesham, the renowned grassroots innovator whose weaving innovation — born out of personal sacrifice and hardship has transformed the lives of countless weavers and workers in the handloom industry. In recognizing him, the University celebrated a spirit of innovation rooted in empathy, perseverance and service to society.

Addressing the Class of 2026, Dr.Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Chairman, Anurag University and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Janagama Constituency  congratulated graduates and emphasized that AI will not take jobs, but those skilled in AI tools will lead the future. He highlighted Anurag’s pioneering role as the first in Telangana to launch B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence (AI) eight years ago, and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to integrating AI across students, curriculum, faculty, and campus. Applauding faculty for Outcome Based Education and parents for their trust, he urged graduates to “Build for the nation, stay rooted and hungry, and define success widely.” The Chairman closed by reminding alumni that excellence is a habit, calling on them to make Telangana and India proud.

The convocation was graced by Chief Guest Mr. Goutham Reddy, Chairman, CII and Executive Director of Re Sustainability Ltd., who addressed the graduating class. Speaking on the relevance of the true engineering spirit in today’s world, Mr. Reddy observed that as Artificial Intelligence disrupts more and more industries, the enduring engineering mindset — the ability to solve real problems with rigour, curiosity and purpose — matters more than ever. He urged graduates to treat AI not as a threat but as a tool, and to anchor their careers in the timeless values of first-principles thinking and continuous learning.

In his address, the Chancellor of Anurag University, Dr. UB Desai, congratulated the graduating class and their families, and reflected on the University’s mission to nurture engineers and professionals who combine technical excellence with responsibility to society. He echoed that the true spirit of engineering — solving problems that matter — remains as relevant as ever in an age being reshaped by AI and encouraged the graduates to carry the values of integrity and innovation into their professional lives.

The ceremony was further distinguished by the presence of senior leaders from across industry who joined as Guests of Honour, including representatives from Mahindra & Mahindra, Dhruva Space, Qualcomm, Cellerite Systems, Aarvee, Deloitte, PwC, PepsiCo, LTIMindtree, Siemens and Karvy Fintech. Their participation underscored the University’s deep and growing engagement with industry and its commitment to preparing graduates for a rapidly evolving workplace.

All the Deans, Heads of the Departments, Directors, Controller of Examinations, Faculty and non-teaching staff were also present on this occasion.

Congratulating the graduates, the University wished them success in their future endeavours and encouraged them to remain lifelong learners and responsible contributors to their communities and to the nation.

Chairman, National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) and EC-NAAC, Dr Anil Sahasrabudhe, will be the Chief Guest. The convocation will also be attended by Guests of Honour, including Chancellor, Shobit Deemed University, and Chairman, ASSOCHAM-NCE, Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra; Vice Chancellor, ATLAS SkillTech University, Mumbai, Dr Rajan Welukar; Director, IISER Mohali, Prof Anil Kumar Tripathi; and Founder, JAN AI, Bengaluru, Dr Madan Padaki.

The ceremony will be presided over by the Chancellor, Pro Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Governing Body, Board of Management, and Academic Council of Shoolini University, who will jointly confer degrees upon the graduating students.

Out of the total graduating cohort, 518 students will receive postgraduate degrees, while 569 students will be awarded undergraduate degrees across diverse disciplines. In addition, 85 scholars will be conferred with doctoral degrees in recognition of their advanced research contributions.

Recognising academic excellence, the university will also honour 30 University Medallists and 23 Merit Certificate holders during the convocation ceremony. These awards highlight the institution’s commitment to nurturing talent and rewarding outstanding academic performance.

The convocation ceremony, scheduled to commence at 3:00 pm onwards, is expected to bring together students, faculty members, parents, and dignitaries in a celebration of academic achievement and institutional pride.