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Former UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar has been appointed Chairperson of the Board of Governors at IIM Calcutta for a four-year term.
Former UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar appointed Chairperson of the Board of Governors at IIM Calcutta.
Former University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar has been appointed the Chairperson of the Board of Governors (BoG) at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, officials from the Ministry of Education confirmed.
The appointment has been approved by President Droupadi Murmu and will be for a four-year term. “Kumar’s tenure will be till completion of four years as Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIM Calcutta or seventy years of age, whichever is earlier,” a senior Ministry of Education official told PTI.
Role of the Board of Governors
The Board of Governors at IIMs functions as the apex decision-making body of the institute. It is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the institution, approving policies, and overseeing financial matters. The board typically includes industry leaders, academics, and government representatives.
Academic and Administrative Career
Kumar brings decades of experience in teaching, research, and academic administration. He served as Chairman of the UGC from February 2022 to April 2025.
Before that, he was the 12th Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) from January 2016 to 2022. Earlier in his career, he was a faculty member at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, where he held the NXP Chair Professorship and coordinated the VLSI Design programme.
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Key Initiatives at UGC
During his tenure at the UGC, Kumar oversaw several initiatives in higher education. He played a key role in implementing the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions to bring uniformity in the admission process across universities.
He also promoted digital learning platforms such as SWAYAM and supported Open and Distance Learning programmes, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Other initiatives during his tenure included the Professor of Practice scheme, the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme, and steps to facilitate foreign universities setting up campuses in India.
Kumar was recently awarded the Padma Shri in 2026 for his contribution to the field of education.
March 06, 2026, 18:45 IST
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