CU Scholars' Summit 2026 Overview
The press release dated June 11, 2026 announces that Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh (CUUP), India's first AI‑augmented multidisciplinary university, organised a two‑day CU Scholars' Summit 2026 on its Lucknow campus. Approximately 1,500 meritorious students from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand participated, with more than 1,000 engineering students honoured on the first day.
Scholarship Initiative
CUUP earlier announced scholarships worth up to ₹50 crore for the academic session 2026‑27 through the Chandigarh University Common Entrance Test (CUCET). Students who performed outstandingly in the entrance examination were awarded scholarships covering up to 100 % of tuition fees.
Dignitaries and Chief Guests
The summit was attended by Yogendra Upadhyay, Minister of Higher Education, Uttar Pradesh, who served as the chief guest. Satnam Singh Sandhu, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, was also present, along with university officials Prof. (Dr.) Vineet Kumar Nair (Vice‑Chancellor) and Prof. (Dr.) T.P. Singh (Pro Vice‑Chancellor). Industry leaders Aman Gupta (Co‑founder, boAt; Founder, Off/Beat), Dr. Shailesh Kumar (EVP & Chief Data Scientist, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited), Aswathy Venugopal (Senior Director, Cognizant Technology Solutions), and Arpit Trivedi (Senior Vice President, Hitachi Systems India Private Limited) attended as chief guests.
Industry Interaction Sessions
Curated interaction sessions featured insights on digital infrastructure, enterprise systems, AI, and future technology careers. Speakers emphasized that academic qualifications alone are insufficient; practical skills, problem‑solving ability, and adaptability to emerging technologies are essential. They highlighted that AI and digital technologies will transform every sector, and students who continuously upgrade their knowledge will be best positioned for future opportunities.
Statements from Officials
Minister Upadhyay praised the university for its talent‑identification and nation‑building role, citing student innovations such as electricity generation from footprints. He linked the event to the core objective of National Education Policy 2020, which aims to integrate education with technology, employability, and values. Upadhyay also underscored Uttar Pradesh’s emergence as a major higher‑education destination, attributing it to world‑class institutions like CUUP.
Chancellor Sandhu described CUCET as a platform that removes financial barriers, emphasizing that the scholarship initiative ensures deserving students are not forced to compromise due to financial constraints. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure of 4,399 days as the longest‑serving elected Prime Minister, noting its role in accelerating India’s developmental journey toward a Viksit Bharat.
University Vision
CUUP positions itself as an AI‑augmented multidisciplinary institution offering AI‑powered academic models, data‑driven insights, virtual reality experiences, real‑world simulations, corporate mentorship, and interdisciplinary research. The university claims to foster sustainability, entrepreneurship, and professional competencies, building on the legacy of Chandigarh University, Punjab, which is described as India’s No. 1 private university.
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