Rajgir: Nalanda University held its third convocation ceremony on Tuesday at the newly built Visvamitaralay Auditorium, where 219 students from 14 countries received degrees, underlining the institution’s growing international profile.
The event took place at the university’s 2,000-seat auditorium on campus in Rajgir and was attended by senior government officials, diplomats and academic leaders.
International Student Cohort
The graduating batch of 2024–26 included students from countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar, among others. University officials said the representation reflected Nalanda’s continued emphasis on cross-border academic engagement.
Eight students received gold medals for academic excellence. Seven of them were women, according to the university.
Senior Officials Attend Ceremony
Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, attended as chief guest. Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), Governor of Bihar, was present as a special guest, while Rudrendra Tandon, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, attended as guest of honour.
Other attendees included Archana Nair, Joint Secretary, Nalanda Division, Ministry of External Affairs, vice chancellors from several universities and academics.
Following the ceremony, the Kautilya Global Centre for State Capacity Building was inaugurated on the campus.
Focus On Responsible Knowledge
Addressing the graduates, Dr. Mishra said Nalanda represented “not merely a university, but a civilizational symbol”, adding that the central challenge in the 21st century was to ensure that knowledge remained linked to ethics and responsibility.
He said the revival of Nalanda reflected India’s belief in dialogue, openness and pluralism as essential values for the future.
Bihar governor Syed Ata Hasnain described the institution as “a civilizational ecosystem”, saying its historical significance lay in connecting India with Asia through scholarship rather than political power.
He also referred to a proposed “Nalanda Corridor” linking Nalanda, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Vikramshila University, which he said could strengthen the region’s heritage and knowledge networks.
New Courses From August
Vice Chancellor Sachin Chaturvedi said the university was entering a phase of academic expansion and would introduce new programmes in science, technology and policy studies, as well as data analytics and artificial intelligence, from the next academic session.
He also announced a new course titled “Nalanda Spirit”, which will begin in August 2026.
Chaturvedi said the institution aimed to strengthen research in non-Western intellectual traditions, comparative civilisational studies and ecological thought, while expanding international academic partnerships.
Revived Institution
Nalanda University was re-established as an international institution to revive the legacy of the ancient seat of learning that drew scholars from across Asia for centuries.
University officials said the convocation reaffirmed its goal of developing as a global centre for education, sustainability and dialogue in the modern era.
