Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya celebrated a historic milestone on Friday as it conducted its fourth convocation ceremony in the presence of distinguished dignitaries and graduating students. The academic event was graced by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, who attended the prestigious ceremony as the chief guest. The convocation marked a memorable day for a fresh cohort of students who are now prepared to contribute to India's fast-growing transport, logistics, and infrastructure sectors. During the ceremony, the institution conferred degrees upon a total of 121 successful students who completed their B.Tech. and MBA academic programs.
Inaugural Honorary Doctorate Conferred upon E Sreedharan
A major highlight of this year's convocation ceremony was the presentation of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya's first-ever honorary doctorate. The university conferred its maiden Ph.D. degree on an 'Honoris Causa' basis to E Sreedharan, the former Managing Director of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. This special honor was awarded to him in recognition of his exceptional and pioneering contributions to the field of transportation networks and national infrastructure development across the country.
Addressing the gathering of young graduates, E Sreedharan shared invaluable life lessons and advice for professional success. He strongly emphasized the critical importance of committing to continuous learning throughout one's career. According to Sreedharan, a robust value system is absolutely essential to succeed in life. He explained that this value system must consist of unwavering punctuality, strong personal and professional integrity, and high professional competency, all coupled with the correct attitude. Furthermore, he encouraged the young audience members to focus on giving back to society and the nation. He pointed out that to achieve this noble goal, individuals must strive to possess both an exemplary moral character and excellent physical health.
Introduction of Metro Rail Management MBA and Student Honors
In addition to traditional courses, the convocation marked a significant academic milestone by awarding an MBA degree in Metro Rail Management for the very first time. This specialized degree program is designed to address the specific management and operational demands of modern rapid transit systems in India. The graduation of this first batch highlights the university's focus on developing niche skills for modern urban transport systems.
The ceremony also served as a platform to celebrate the outstanding academic achievements of its top-performing students. Gold Medals for exceptional academic performance across various specialized branches of study were awarded to Vivek Yadav, Sandeep Patel, Abhinandan Gupta, Rishav Tripathi, and Suresh Sengundarmudliyar. Academic projects were also given high recognition, with the Outstanding Project award for 2026 being presented to the joint team of Durgesh Kumar and Sandeep Patel. Meanwhile, the prestigious Best Graduating Student award of 2026 was formally conferred upon Vivek Kumar for his overall excellence during his academic journey.
Aviation Minister Outlines the Three Ms for Growth
In his convocation address, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu introduced a core philosophy built around the 'Three Ms': Movement, Momentum, and Mission. He explained to the graduates that these three words represent direction, speed, and purpose respectively, which are key to both personal growth and national progress. Naidu drew attention to the rapid advancements taking place across India's transportation sector, noting the exceptional growth and modernization visible within the nation's aviation industry.
The Civil Aviation Minister also emphasized the vital role that the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sector is set to play in generating massive employment and professional opportunities for the country's youth. He highly praised the rapid development of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering curriculum, which was successfully designed within just four months following a partnership between the university and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Extending the complete and absolute support of the Ministry of Civil Aviation to Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Naidu highly complimented the university's industry-driven curriculum and practical approach, describing it as a benchmark template that the entire higher education sector in India should emulate.
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya: An Industry-Driven Central University
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is a premier Central University functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Railways. The university was established through a dedicated Act of Parliament in December 2022 to build specialized human resources for the nation's transport sector. Beyond its regular academic offerings for students, the university places a massive focus on providing executive training programs. It conducts specialized training for officers across the Indian Railways, including both fresh probationers and active serving officers. Additionally, it offers domain-specific training to personnel from the Defence Forces, encompassing the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy, as well as officers from the Indian Civil Services.
Fully aligning its academic structures with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), the university adheres to a demand-driven curriculum. Its core institutional vision is to operate as an "Industry-driven and Innovation-led" university. By focusing on practical application, the institution is dedicated to preparing superior human resources and driving high-quality research aimed at supporting the overall development and infrastructure growth of the country.
