Prof. Naorem Lokendra Singh, the 11th Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University, completed his tenure on 7 May 2026 after leading the institution from 23 July 2021. During a five-year spell marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ethnic violence that began in May 2023, he steered the university through severe disruptions and worked to restore academic continuity, administrative stability and public trust.
When he assumed office, the university had been without a regular full-time VC for nearly two years. Academic calendars were irregular, morale was low, and the state’s higher-education environment suffered recurrent disturbances. The pandemic’s 2020–2021 wave forced a rapid shift to online learning in a region with uneven digital access. The May 2023 violence added prolonged curfews, internet shutdowns, campus closures and displacement of students and staff, further threatening academic sessions and placement activities.
Rather than focus only on short-term damage control, Prof. Lokendra Singh prioritized resilience and forward planning. He pushed reforms to stabilise operations and align Manipur University with national priorities. A major milestone was the early adoption of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: the Academic Council approved the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) on 14 June 2022, positioning MU among the earliest implementers in the Northeast. The university also promoted enrolment in the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) to enable credit mobility and guided affiliated colleges toward the FYUP model.
The administration introduced the Manipur University PG Regulations 2025 to align postgraduate courses with NEP principles. It officially launched an e-Office system to improve transparency, reduce paperwork and speed decision-making during periods of physical disruption. Parallelly, there was a strategic push to integrate Artificial Intelligence into academic programmes and research infrastructure to prepare students for emerging technologies.
Examination reforms were implemented to protect credibility and timeliness amid disruptions. Skill-oriented programmes and employment-focused initiatives were expanded, and comprehensive faculty development efforts sought to raise teaching and research standards across departments.
Cultural and community engagement featured prominently in his tenure. He established the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems to connect indigenous wisdom with modern curricula, and promoted local culture and sports at the inter-university level. The successful organisation of the All India Thang Ta Competition 2025–2026 drew national attention to Manipur’s traditional martial art and boosted youth engagement. The university also undertook tree-plantation drives and sustainability campaigns to strengthen campus–community ties.
The Centre for Entrepreneurship and Skill Development was upgraded into the Department of Vocational Studies and Skill Development (DVSSD), aligning with the Skill India mission to provide practical employment pathways. One of the most tangible outcomes of his tenure was the 15th General Convocation, which cleared a backlog of degrees from 2013–2020 and restored recognition for thousands of graduates.
As Prof. N. Lokendra Singh bids farewell on 7 May 2026, colleagues, staff and students marked his departure with farewell programmes. His tenure is presented here as a period of reform and resilience that, according to supporters, has left Manipur University better positioned for the challenges of the 21st century. The views expressed in the original article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of India Today NE or its affiliates.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/opinion/story/steering-manipur-university-through-turbulence-a-farewell-to-prof-naorem-lokendra-singh-the-11th-vice-chancellor-1388153-2026-05-07?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-05-07 12:04:00
