CU Scholar Summit 2026 saw meritorious students from various

states across the country attend; 1,500 meritorious students honored during

two-day summit

Chandigarh University, UP giving wings to dreams of

meritorious students by providing scholarships worth Rs 50 crore through CUCET

Chandigarh University, UP discovering talents and preparing

them for nation building: Yogendra Upadhyay, Higher Education Minister

Students' innovation at CU UP impressed us; they will play

leading role in building developed India: Yogendra Upadhyay, Higher Education

Minister, UP

CUCET is not just an entrance test, it is a mission to

nurture the talent of the country: Satnam Singh Sandhu, Rajya Sabha MP and

Chancellor, Chandigarh University

Lucknow, 11 June (HS): Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh,

the country's first AI-augmented multidisciplinary university, hosted the

two-day CU Scholar Summit 2026. Over 1,500 meritorious students attended the

summit, primarily from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. In fact, the

university announced scholarships worth up to Rs 50 crore through the CUCET

(Chandigarh University Common Entrance Test) for the 2026-27 academic year.

Students who excelled in this exam have received scholarships of up to 100

percent. The CU Scholar Summit has been organized to honor these talented

students.

Yogendra Upadhyay, Minister of Higher Education, Government

of Uttar Pradesh, attended the final day of the program as the chief guest.

Also present were Rajya Sabha MP and Chancellor of Chandigarh University,

Satnam Singh Sandhu, Prof. (Dr.) Vineet Kumar Nair, Vice Chancellor, CU UP, and

Prof. Dr. TP Singh, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Chandigarh University UP, among

others.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Yogendra Upadhyay,

Minister of Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh, said, I am

proud to be in Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh. It is not just a

university, but a center of excellence for discovering talent, nurturing

talent, and preparing them for nation-building. I am speechless to see the

innovations and research models presented by the students here today.

Innovative ideas like generating electricity from footprints demonstrate that

India's youth are not only learning, but also creating solutions for the

future.

The National Education Policy 2020 aims to integrate

education with technology, employment, and values, and Chandigarh University is

effectively realizing this vision. I have seen in the students here a sense of

dedication to the nation, along with a passion for technology. Patriotism isn't

limited to defending the country at the border; advancing the nation through

knowledge, innovation, and action is also a form of national service. Sandhu ji

and his team are preparing young people for the future with this spirit.

Today, Uttar Pradesh is emerging as the nation's emerging

hub of higher education, and the presence of world-class institutions like

Chandigarh University is fueling this transformation. I am confident that its

students will play a leading role in realizing the vision of a developed India

and, through their knowledge, research, and innovation, will elevate India to

new heights of global leadership.

Speaking on this occasion, Rajya Sabha MP and Chancellor of

Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu, said that CUCET is not just an

entrance exam, but a powerful tool to identify talent and ensure access to

quality education by removing financial barriers. This scholarship initiative

aims to ensure that no deserving student has to compromise on their dreams due

to financial reasons. We all want to see our children realize the dreams we

cannot fulfill in our own lives. Therefore, investing in children's dreams is

the most important investment. Today's Gen Z dreams are bigger, more global,

and more ambitious than ever before. AI is transforming every sector of the

world, and in the future, technology will be so powerful that a single person

will be able to run an entire company. In such a time, Chandigarh University,

Uttar Pradesh's goal is not just to award degrees, but to prepare future

leaders who will harness the power of AI and emerging technologies to play a

vital role in the development of society and the nation.

I also congratulate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on

achieving the distinction of being the longest-serving elected Prime Minister,

under whose leadership India is rapidly progressing towards becoming a

developed nation. His 4,399 days of leadership and his third consecutive term

have given new impetus to the country's resolve for development.

As the country's first AI-augmented multidisciplinary

university, we are providing students not only academic knowledge but also

industry-ready skills, an innovation mindset, and global exposure. The CU

Scholars Summit 2026 is an important part of this vision, where we are honoring

meritorious students from across the country. I am proud that in just one year,

Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh has developed an ecosystem of education,

innovation, and opportunities that has opened doors to new possibilities for

students. We are confident that these young talents will make a significant

contribution to making the country a global AI and technology leader, realizing

the vision of a developed India.

The event was attended by several renowned industry experts,

policy makers and Chandigarh University alumni. Special industry talks for

students included Aman Gupta, Co-Founder, Bot and Founder, Off Beat; Dr.

Shailesh Kumar, EVP & Chief Data Scientist, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd.;

Aswathi Venugopal – Senior Director, Cognizant Technology Solutions; Arpit

Trivedi, Senior Vice President, Hitachi Systems India Pvt. Ltd.; Aparajita,

Government Advisory (Climate Change, Sustainable Development & Public Policy),

StartInUP; Aparshakti Khurana, Indian Actor & Singer; Radhika Pant,

Celebrity & Indian Singer Asees Kaur who shared their experiences.

Experts discussed topics such as digital infrastructure,

enterprise systems, industry-ready technology skills, AI, and future

engineering careers. They told students that in today's world, not just a

degree is crucial, but also practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and

the ability to understand new technologies. Experts say that AI and digital

technology are going to transform every field in the future. Therefore,

students who keep themselves updated and learn new skills will have better

career opportunities.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi