Campus Times | Lucknow 

The University of Lucknow celebrated the 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour, with Vice Chancellor Prof. Jai Prakash Saini unfurling the Tricolour and paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and freedom fighters. The main ceremony at the Arts Faculty premises featured the National Anthem and Vande Mataram. In his address, Prof. Saini highlighted Indias progress in space missions, semiconductor manufacturing, UPI and digital transformation, calling upon students and faculty to contribute to the vision of a developed India. He also stressed the importance of the Indian knowledge tradition, social harmony and mutual respect on campus. A new Vice Chancellors Office was inaugurated at the universitys second campus. Prof. Saini said he would regularly sit there at least two days a week to ensure faster resolution of academic, administrative and infrastructure-related issues. The celebrations concluded with patriotic performances, slogans and distribution of sweets.

BBAU: youth power and self-reliance at the core

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) celebrated Independence Day with a strong focus on youth empowerment, self-reliance and nation-building. Vice Chancellor Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal hoisted the National Flag and paid floral tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, followed by the National Anthem and National Song. A seminar on Role of Youth in Achieving the Goal of Viksit Bharat featured Dexterity Global Founder and CEO Sharad Vivek Sagar as Chief Guest. Prof. Mittal urged young people to prioritise skill development, innovation, leadership and continuous technological learning, while encouraging researchers to address real-world social and national challenges. He also highlighted new initiatives at the universitys Amethi Campus, including a computer lab, 24×7 electricity and academic programmes in Psychology, English and Geography. Six social change-makers from fields including humanitarian service, tribal welfare, entrepreneurship and agricultural research were honoured. Cultural performances by students added colour to the celebrations.

DSM National Rehabilitation University: research, accessibility and employability in focus

Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University celebrated Independence Day by showcasing its achievements in research, rehabilitation, technology and inclusive education. Vice Chancellor Acharya Sanjay Singh unfurled the National Flag and highlighted the universitys recognition as a national Centre of Excellence by the Rehabilitation Council of India. He said the university had signed MoUs with 15 institutions covering research collaboration, software development, skill enhancement, data analytics, AI, machine learning and online education. The university has also strengthened its rehabilitation services, providing free assistive devices and prosthetic limbs to 6,647 persons with disabilities so far, including 1,504 beneficiaries in the past year. The Vice Chancellor highlighted smart vision glasses, accessible digital examinations and new 3D-printing and modular prosthetic technologies. Students won 64 medals at regional, national and international levels, while 175 students received 257 job offers, with the highest package reaching ₹13.36 lakh. He also identified improved NIRF and NAAC performance as key institutional priorities.