Lucknow, January 5: The University of Lucknow enters a new administrative chapter following the appointment of Professor Jai Prakash Saini as its next Vice-Chancellor. The announcement was made on Saturday, January 3, 2026, through an official order from Raj Bhavan. Professor Saini, a distinguished academician and an IIT alumnus, is expected to assume charge shortly, bringing an end to a five-month vacancy in the institution's top leadership.

The appointment was formalized by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh and Chancellor of the university, Anandiben Patel, utilizing powers under Section 12 of the Uttar Pradesh State Universities Act, 1973. Professor Saini’s term is slated for a period of three years from the date he assumes office. Lucknow University Professor Ravi Kant Booked for Making Derogatory Remarks on Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham.

He succeeds Professor Alok Kumar Rai, who vacated the post in July last year to become the director of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta. Since then, the university had been functioning under the acting leadership of Professor Manuka Khanna.

Speaking shortly after his appointment, Professor Saini highlighted that his primary objective would be to strengthen the academic and research standards of the century-old institution. Lucknow University Students Create Huge Ruckus After Gatecrashing Wedding for Free Food, Hurl Crude Bombs When Hosts Object (Watch Videos).

"I will focus on ensuring quality in academics and research," Saini told reporters. "Lucknow University has very strong human resources and sufficient faculty members. It has a lot of potential, and we will work to improve its national and international rankings."

He also expressed a vision to utilize his technical background to "uplift the university technologically," suggesting a roadmap centered on digital governance and linking research more closely with societal needs.

Jai Prakash Saini- Background and Academic Credentials

Professor Saini brings over 34 years of experience in higher education, research, and administration. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Vice-Chancellor of Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology (MMMUT) in Gorakhpur, where he was credited with significantly improving the university's performance in the NIRF 2025 rankings.

Academic Highlights:

  • Education: B.Tech from KNIT Sultanpur, M.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur, and PhD in Electronics Engineering.

  • Leadership Roles: Former Vice-Chancellor of Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT), New Delhi, and former Director of Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology for Handicapped, Kanpur.

  • Research: Over 200 published national and international research papers focused on semiconductors and mobile communication.

Founded in 1920, Lucknow University is one of India’s most prestigious public state universities. The transition comes at a critical time as the university implements various academic reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) and looks to expand its digital infrastructure.

The incoming Vice-Chancellor is expected to review ongoing projects and meet with faculty and student representatives later this week to finalize a developmental roadmap for the university.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2026 07:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).