Jamia Millia Islamia Celebrates 105th Foundation Day by Showcasing UN SDG-Aligned Best Practices; Ranked 3rd in India under NIRF 2025 SDG Category
New Delhi, November 3, 2025:
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) marked its 105th Foundation Day with a strong focus on sustainability and inclusive growth, showcasing its best practices aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The university organized a workshop on “UN Sustainable Development Goals: Opportunities and Challenges” and an SDG exhibition booth at the Talimi Mela Complex to highlight its initiatives and achievements.
This celebration holds special importance as JMI recently secured the 3rd position in the SDG category in the NIRF 2025 Rankings, reaffirming its commitment to promoting sustainability and equitable development across its academic and research ecosystem.
Event Highlights and Inauguration
The SDG booth and workshop were inaugurated by Shri Kiren Rijiju, Hon’ble Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs. During the event, the Minister released a brochure documenting JMI’s best practices under all 17 SDGs.
Prof. Ahteshamul Haque, the event’s Coordinator, briefed the Hon’ble Minister about JMI’s research and initiatives, revealing that the university has published 8,680 SDG-related research papers, according to SCOPUS data. Students from undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels presented ongoing projects addressing diverse SDG targets.
Shri Rijiju praised JMI’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda, applauding the faculty and students for their innovative approach and dedication to sustainability.
Expert Insights at the SDG Workshop
The workshop brought together distinguished experts, including:
- Prof. Prerna Gaur, Director, NSUT, New Delhi
- Dr. Anil Kumar, Director, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India
- Mr. Abhinav Jain, Project Director, GiZ India
- Prof. Haque welcomed the guests and provided a background on the SDGs’ global significance.
Vice-Chancellor’s Address
Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mazhar Asif emphasized that sustainability begins with individual responsibility. He urged students to “adopt eco-friendly practices in their daily lives,” noting that the principles of sustainability are deeply rooted in India’s ancient traditions and lifestyles.
Focus on Clean Energy and Sustainable Living
Registrar Prof. Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi called for collective action towards “clean energy, zero carbon emissions, and smart transportation systems,” and commended the SDG organizing team for their innovative showcase.
Prof. Mohammed Shareef, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, discussed measures to combat carbon emissions, while Prof. Neelofer Afzal, Dean, Students’ Welfare, highlighted JMI’s student-led initiatives such as the ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyan’ promoting responsible citizenship.
Industry and Government Perspectives
Dr. Anil Kumar underscored India’s renewable energy targets and their alignment with SDGs, while Prof. Prerna Gaur lauded JMI’s documented best practices and informed participants about IEEE’s project funding for SDG-based initiatives.
Mr. Abhinav Jain shared insights on GiZ India’s collaboration with 25 ministries to advance sustainability goals across sectors like energy, mining, and environment.
The program also saw participation from Mr. Munawwar Hussain, Design Engineer, SIEMENS Energy, JMI’s industry partner, and members of the IEEE JMI Student Branch.
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