Chennai : Shiv Nadar University Chennai and SSN College of Engineering awarded scholarships worth ₹8.35 crore to 618 students for the academic year 2026–27, at the Shiv Nadar Foundation Scholarship Day 2026. Held at the Justice Pratap Singh Auditorium, the ceremony celebrated academic achievement and reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent deserving students from pursuing quality higher education.
The scholarships recognise academic merit, support students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and promote opportunities for rural students and outstanding sportspersons. Among the beneficiaries are students from rural government higher secondary schools who received scholarships under the Scholarship for Potential Undergraduate Rural Students (SPURS) programme. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between academic potential and access to higher education for talented students from rural communities.
Reflecting on the vision behind the scholarship programme, Professor Sriman Kumar Bhattacharyya, Vice Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University Chennai, said, “Talent is spread evenly across this country. Opportunity is not. The Shiv Nadar Foundation bridges that gap. Mr Shiv Nadar began his philanthropy in education with a simple promise: financial constraints must never stand in the way of a deserving student. Every scholarship we award is an investment in that student, their family and the future they will build.”
Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, attended the ceremony as Chief Guest. A distinguished academic specialising in decision-making and negotiation, Professor Pillutla has led ISB since July 2021. Previously, he spent 22 years at London Business School, where he also served as Deputy Dean of Faculty.
Addressing the scholars, Madan Pillutla, Dean & Professor of Organizational Behaviour, ISB Hyderabad said, “What will happen in the world, in the economy and in the world of organisations is no different to what happened during the Industrial Revolution. We are talking about changes of a magnitude that have not been seen for centuries. During a time of this kind of disruption, there are all kinds of dangers. Society is going to cleave in two ways. There are going to be haves and have-nots. The question is, what are you going to do about the people who are not going to win? You have to be empathetic to people who are less privileged than you, people who do not have as much as you do.”
The ceremony also featured two accomplished SSN alumni as Special Guests: Mr. Senthilnathan R (EEE, Batch of 2001), Co-founder, Emsensing Technologies Pvt. Ltd., and Associate Director, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Coimbatore; and Mr. Thanga Prakash Anandarajan (ECE, Batch of 2007), Senior Staff Engineer, eBay, Bengaluru, and recipient of the SSN Distinguished Alumnus Award 2025. Their participation highlighted the professional achievements of alumni and the role of education in opening opportunities across industries and geographies. The scholarship programme at Shiv Nadar University Chennai combines recognition of academic achievement with financial assistance for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. For the academic year 2026–27, scholarships were awarded across the following categories:
• Merit Scholarships: Awarded based on performance in the Shiv Nadar University Chennai Entrance Examination (SNUCEE) or outstanding academic performance in the preceding year for students in higher semesters.
• Merit-cum-Means Scholarships: Supporting academically accomplished students from low-income households, including first-generation learners, through substantial tuition fee waivers.
• Sports Scholarships: Recognising students who have demonstrated exceptional sporting ability at national and international levels.
• Scholarship for Potential Undergraduate Rural Students (SPURS): Supporting toppers from rural government higher secondary schools, the programme helps deserving students overcome financial barriers to university education.
• Shiv Nadar Foundation Scholarship for VidyaGyan Students: Providing continued educational support to students who have studied at VidyaGyan, the Foundation’s network of fully funded residential schools for meritorious students from rural communities.
• Alumni Scholarships: Instituted in collaboration with the Alumni Association, reflect alumni’s commitment to giving back to their alma mater by supporting the educational aspirations of deserving students. Special Alumni Scholarships cover the complete educational expenses of selected students throughout their programmes.
The University also offers Walk-in-Walk-out Scholarships, providing top-ranking students from State and Central Boards with a full tuition fee waiver for the entire duration of their programme, subject to the prescribed academic requirements.
Scholarships were also awarded to students enrolled in postgraduate programmes, including M.E./M.Tech. and MBA, at both institutions.
The Foundation’s commitment to expanding educational access begins at the school level through VidyaGyan, its network of fully funded residential schools for academically talented students from rural communities. Established in 2009, VidyaGyan operates three campuses in Bulandshahr, Sitapur and Chennai, providing students with access to quality education, academic support and opportunities for personal development.
By supporting deserving students from school through higher education, the Foundation seeks to address financial and social barriers that can limit educational opportunities.
The scholarships awarded at Shiv Nadar Foundation Scholarship Day 2026 are part of this broader commitment, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to pursue their academic ambitions and build futures shaped by their abilities rather than their circumstances.
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