Former chairman of the University Grants Commission, Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Governors of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, according to officials from the Ministry of Education.

The appointment, approved by Droupadi Murmu, President of India, will be for a period of four years. Officials said Kumar’s tenure will continue until the completion of four years as Chairperson of the Board of Governors or until he reaches the age of 70, whichever comes earlier.

The Board of Governors at IIMs functions as the apex decision-making body, responsible for providing strategic direction, framing institutional policies, and approving key financial decisions. The board typically includes prominent industry leaders, leading academics, and government representatives.

Kumar brings extensive experience in research, teaching and academic administration to the role. He served as Chairman of the University Grants Commission from February 2022 to April 2025. 

Before that, he was the 12th Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University from 2016 to 2022.

Earlier in his academic career, Kumar was associated with Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, where he held the NXP Chair Professorship and coordinated the VLSI Design programme.

During his tenure at the UGC, Kumar oversaw several reforms in India’s higher education system. 

He played a key role in rolling out the Common University Entrance Test for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions, aimed at standardising university entry across the country.

He also pushed for expansion of digital education through platforms such as SWAYAM and Open and Distance Learning programmes, in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020.

Other initiatives under his leadership included the Professor of Practice scheme, the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme, and enabling foreign universities to establish campuses in India.

Recognizing his contributions to education and academic reform, Kumar was recently honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.