CM Fadnavis receives Honorary D.Litt. at Adani Institute Convocation in Wardha
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis received an Honorary D.Litt. at the first convocation since the Wardha university was renamed Adani Institute of Higher Education and Research. Over 2,320 degrees and 143 medals were awarded, with one student alone bagging 23 medals — underscoring a landmark ceremony that blended institutional rebranding with academic celebration.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis was conferred the Honorary D.Litt. at the Adani Institute of Higher Education and Research in Wardha on 17 October 2026 .
The 17th Convocation was the first under the institution's new name, formerly known as Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (DMIHER) .
A total of 2,320 degrees — including 123 PhDs — were conferred across 10 faculties .
Poojal Devidas Mapari of DMMC won a remarkable 23 medals for academic excellence.
Abhijat Sheth , Chairperson of the NMC , received an Honorary D.Sc. for contributions to medical education and healthcare governance.
The university has grown from 100 medical students to over 14,000 students across 260+ programmes .
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was conferred the Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree at the 17th Convocation of the Adani Institute of Higher Education and Research in Wardha on 17 October 2026. The event marked the first convocation since the institution was renamed from its earlier identity as Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (DMIHER).
Ceremony Highlights
The convocation was presided over by Dr. Priti Adani, Chancellor of the university and Chairperson of the Adani Foundation. A total of 2,320 degrees were conferred across 10 faculties, including 123 PhDs. Academic honours comprised 123 gold medals, seven silver medals, and 13 other prizes, awarded to 83 awardees. Poojal Devidas Mapari of Datta Meghe Medical College (DMMC) stood out with an exceptional 23 medals for outstanding academic achievement.
What Fadnavis Said
Addressing the graduates, Chief Minister Fadnavis emphasised the responsibility that comes with education. 'It is society that created the institution through which you could graduate. That is why there is always a time to give back. The definition of success is not how much money you earn. The definition of success is how much you can give back,' he said. In a lighter moment, he added: 'When I look at all these PhD holders, I thank God I did not have to do all the hard work they did to earn the PhD.'
Second Honorary Degree Awarded
Dr. Abhijat Sheth, Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC), also received the Honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree (Honoris Causa) for his contributions to medical education, healthcare governance, and public health in India.
About the Institution
Dr. Priti Adani called the day 'a proud moment for our university community,' paying tribute to the late Shri Datta Meghe, whose vision originally shaped the institution. The university has grown from an initial cohort of 100 medical students to more than 14,000 students across over 260 multidisciplinary programmes. Its 10 constituent institutions span medical, dental, Ayurvedic, physiotherapy, nursing, pharmaceutical, engineering, and allied health sciences, anchored by flagship colleges including Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) and Sharad Pawar Dental College (SPDC). The renaming signals a new institutional chapter while the university continues to carry forward Datta Meghe's educational legacy.
Point of View
Even if such ceremonial conferrals are not uncommon in Indian academia. The renaming of a Wardha university — a city historically associated with Gandhian austerity and public-interest education — to reflect a major corporate philanthropic entity marks a broader trend of branded institutional identity in Indian higher education. What the ceremony underscores more usefully is the institution's genuine scale: from 100 medical students to 14,000 across 260 programmes is a substantial academic footprint, and the 123 PhDs conferred in a single sitting reflect real research output that deserves attention beyond the headline name on the stage.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What honorary degree did CM Devendra Fadnavis receive at the Adani Institute convocation?
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was conferred the Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree at the 17th Convocation of the Adani Institute of Higher Education and Research in Wardha on 17 October 2026. The ceremony was the first held under the institution's new name.
What is the Adani Institute of Higher Education and Research?
It is a deemed-to-be university in Wardha, Maharashtra, formerly known as Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (DMIHER). The institution has grown from 100 medical students to over 14,000 students across more than 260 multidisciplinary programmes spanning medicine, engineering, pharmacy, and allied sciences.
Who else received an honorary degree at the 17th Convocation?
Dr. Abhijat Sheth, Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC), received the Honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree (Honoris Causa) for his contributions to medical education, healthcare governance, and public health in India.
How many degrees and medals were awarded at the convocation?
The university conferred 2,320 degrees — including 123 PhDs — across 10 faculties. Academic honours included 123 gold medals, seven silver medals, and 13 other prizes presented to 83 awardees. Poojal Devidas Mapari of Datta Meghe Medical College won 23 medals alone.
Who presided over the Adani Institute 17th Convocation?
The convocation was presided over by Dr. Priti Adani, Chancellor of the university and Chairperson of the Adani Foundation. She paid tribute to the late Shri Datta Meghe, whose vision originally shaped the institution.
