Kirti Chakra Conferred on CU Alumnus
Major Arshdeep Singh Gill, an alumnus who completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering at Chandigarh University in 2014, was awarded the Kirti Chakra – India’s second‑highest peacetime gallantry award – by President Droupadi Murmu during the Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The citation recognises his extraordinary courage, leadership and devotion to duty during a high‑risk counter‑insurgency operation in Manipur conducted in May 2025. Gill, attached to the Armoured Corps and serving with 1 Assam Rifles, led the operation for nearly 84 hours, completing it flawlessly with zero casualties and demonstrating precise operational expertise.
University’s Perspective and Institutional Highlights
Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director of Chandigarh University, praised Gill’s conduct as an exemplar of courage, professionalism and national service, noting that the operation’s success underscores the university’s role in nurturing leaders with a “Nation First” ethos. Sandhu highlighted the university’s National Cadet Corps (NCC) wing, which has trained and commissioned 55 students as officers in the Indian Armed Forces, attributing their success to rigorous training camps, disciplined routines and mentorship.
Welfare Schemes and Scholarships
Chandigarh University disclosed that its Armed Forces Educational Welfare Scheme (AFEWS) reserves seats across all courses for the wards and spouses of defence martyrs, war widows, war casualties, disabled defence personnel and their families, as well as for dependents of serving and retired defence and paramilitary personnel. Over the past 14 years, the university has awarded defence‑related scholarships to 5,723 students, providing financial assistance exceeding Rs 6 crore. Additionally, the Shaheed Captain Vikram Batra Scholarship offers special support to families of Kargil War heroes.
Institutional Credentials
The university is accredited with a NAAC A+ grade, holds QS World University ranking status, is approved by the UGC, and offers more than 109 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce and other fields. It has been recognised as “The University with Best Placements” by WCRC.
Closing Remarks
Sandhu reiterated the university’s commitment to supporting the families of military personnel, stating that the scholarship schemes and NCC training programmes are the institution’s way of thanking and honouring those who protect the nation’s borders.