Leh, July 24, 2025 : In a defining moment for higher education in the trans-Himalayan region, Sindhu Central University (SCU) held its maiden convocation, conferring degrees upon 14 students from its first graduating batch. The ceremony took place at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies in Leh in the presence of Ladakh Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal and executive members of the university.
The event marked a quiet yet powerful step forward in the evolution of Ladakh as a hub of interdisciplinary education. The graduates belonged to three postgraduate programmes launched in the university’s first academic session in 2024—M.Tech in Energy Technology and Policy, M.Tech in Atmospheric and Climate Science, and MA in Public Policy.
Delivering the keynote address, IIT Madras Director and Chair of SCU’s Executive & Academic Councils, Prof. V. Kamakoti, said:
“SCU is envisioned as a non-conventional, interdisciplinary learning centre aligned with India’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. We aim to make the university fully operational by 2028.”
IIT Madras is the mentor institute for SCU, which currently operates from a newly inaugurated transit campus in Ladakh. The permanent campus is coming up in Khaltsi village, located at an altitude of 3,500 metres above sea level, making it the highest university in the world.
In addition to the initial courses, SCU has recently introduced a Master’s in Buddhist Studies and Philosophy, offering students internships in local monasteries to promote immersive, culture-based learning.
Students shared emotional testimonies about their academic journey:
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Tenzin Zengking from Leh said:
“The course felt purposeful, especially in a place like Ladakh where sustainability is a part of life. I want to stay back and continue my research here.”
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Shakeel Ahmed, who is now pursuing higher studies at IIT Delhi, added:
“The foundation I received at SCU matched the standards of premier institutes like IITs.”
Prof. Kamakoti also revealed the highlights of the university’s Detailed Project Report (DPR):
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Rs 955 crore total budget, with
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Rs 725 crore for infrastructure including high-altitude research labs
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Rs 230 crore for academic and operational activities
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Plans to offer:
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15+ integrated programmes
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20+ postgraduate courses
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Various Ph.D. programmes across disciplines
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SCU will house four specialised schools:
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School of Basic and Natural Sciences
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School of Interdisciplinary Management Development
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School of Environmental Energy and Sustainable Development
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School of Endic Systems and Studies
Named after the ancient Sindhu River, Sindhu Central University is India’s first trans-Himalayan central university—designed not just to educate, but to embed knowledge in the landscape and ethos of Ladakh.
