Strategic Vision and Leadership

Professor (Dr) Mohan Kumar, former Ambassador of India to France and Founding Director-General of MJIAS, presented the Institute’s Vision Statement. He stressed the importance of deepening Indo-US ties through knowledge diplomacy.

“MJIAS will engage with geopolitics, digital governance, trade, and defence to build a resilient strategic partnership insulated from geopolitical shifts,” he said.

Senior scholars from top US universities — Professor (Dr) Jayanth Krishnan (Indiana University) and Professor Sital Kalantry (Seattle University) — praised MJIAS for its interdisciplinary focus and commitment to liberal democratic values and academic integrity.

Diplomatic Recognition

In his Presidential Address, H.E. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York, called MJIAS “a timely and meaningful contribution to the India–US strategic partnership,” underscoring its role in promoting “knowledge diplomacy.”

He stated: “India and the US share democracy and diversity. MJIAS will strengthen this bond through research, policy dialogue, and people-to-people connections.”

Sustainable Development Milestone

The evening also featured the launch of JGU’s Sustainable Development Report 2025, authored by Professor Padmanabha Ramanujam, Dean of Academic Governance. The report maps JGU’s contributions to all 17 UN SDGs through education, research, and institutional strategy.

Justice Michael Wilson, former Supreme Court Judge of Hawaii and Distinguished Professor at JGU, lauded the report: “JGU has created an institutional sustainability model that global universities can emulate.”

Law, Technology, and Governance

The concluding Distinguished Public Lecture featured former Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Justice U.U. Lalit, who emphasized the vital role of universities in constitutional democracy.

He said: “A university must cultivate both knowledge and conscience. In facing global challenges to the rule of law and justice, MJIAS becomes essential. It equips students with the tools and moral compass to lead and serve. Academic institutions must challenge power and uphold constitutional spirit.”

Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for IT and Digital Services, delivered a Keynote on AI ethics and digital governance, advocating stronger university-government partnerships for inclusive policymaking.

Professor R. Sudarshan, Dean of the Jindal School of Government & Public Policy, moderated the session, highlighting the confluence of law, technology, and ethics.

Professor (Dr) Akhil Bhardwaj, Vice Dean of International Affairs and Global Initiatives, concluded the evening with a Vote of Thanks, calling the event “a milestone moment for JGU and a global call to action for universities to be bolder, braver, and more connected.”