Former UGC chief M Jagadesh Kumar appointed chairperson of IIM Calcutta board

Former University Grants Commission chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar has been nominated as the chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, according to an order issued by the Union education ministry.

The ministry said the appointment has been made by the President of India in her capacity as the Visitor of IIM Calcutta under the provisions of the IIM Act, 2017.

The nomination will come into effect from the date Kumar assumes charge. He will serve for four years or until he reaches the age of 74, whichever is earlier.

Kumar completed his tenure as UGC chairman in April 2026 after leading the higher education regulator since February 2022.

He retired from the position upon attaining the age of 65. Earlier this year, he was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to literature and education.

Before heading the UGC, Kumar served as the vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University from January 2016 to February 2022.

He was also a professor in the department of electrical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

Reacting to the appointment, IIM Calcutta director Alok Kumar congratulated him.

“His experience as professor at IIT Delhi and vice-chancellor of JNU and chairman of UGC will help the institute scale newer heights,” he said on X.

Under the IIM Act, 2017, the Board of Governors functions as the apex governing and executive authority of the institutes. The board is responsible for overseeing the overall administration, academic policies, and strategic direction of the institution.

It exercises general supervision and control over the institute’s functioning and major decisions related to operations and governance.