President Pranab Mukherjee lays foundation stone of permanent campus of Nalanda University

President Pranab Mukherjee watches a model of Nalanda University campus after foundation stone laying ceremony at Rajgir, Nalanda on Saturday. (Source: PTI Photo)

President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday laid the foundation stone of the permanent campus of Nalanda University at Pilkhi village in Rajgir, Bihar. He also conferred the chancellors gold medal to two students at the first convocation of the university. The President over Post graduate degrees to 12 students of the first batch. Presently, 155 students are studying in the university.

Governor Ramnath Kovind and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were also present on the occasion. The Nalanda University came into being on November 25, 2010 by a special Act of the Parliament and has been designated as an institution of national importance. The University is being supported by all the Members of the East Asia Summit and Intergovernmental Memorandums of University to that effect have been signed by 17 countries.

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The President will reach Bengaluru later on Saturday, where he will participate in the 15th year celebrations of the Akshaya Patra Foundation and commemoration of serving two billion meals programme at the Hare Krishna Hills. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar will also participate in the programme.

Akshaya Patra Foundation serves meals to nearly 15 lakh children every day in over 13,000 schools in 10 states of the country. It is also one of the implementing partners of the flagship mid-day meal programme of the Government of India. On Sunday, the President will address the 24th annual convocation of National Law School of India University in Bengaluru.