The University Grants Commission (UGC) has called upon all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across India to actively participate in the forthcoming National Convention of Women Thought Leaders, titled “Bharati-Nari to Narayani.” The convention will be held on March 7 and March 8, 2026 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, coinciding with the celebration of International Women’s Day. It serves as a collaborative national platform dedicated to women thought leaders from diverse academic and professional domains. The convention aims to celebrate women’s achievements, promote inclusive and holistic leadership, and strengthen India’s path toward self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) and sustainable national development.
According to the official communication issued by Prof. Manish R. Joshi, Secretary of the UGC, the Bharati-Nari to Narayani initiative will provide women scholars, administrators, and educators an opportunity to deliberate on issues central to nation-building from inclusive leadership to gender-responsive governance.
The UGC emphasised that the convention is not just an event but a movement to transform the discourse on women’s contributions to India’s knowledge economy. It will bring together women thought leaders who have demonstrated excellence in education, research, public administration, entrepreneurship, and social innovation.
The theme “Nari to Narayani” stems from India’s cultural ethos, in which women have been revered as symbols of strength, intellect, and compassion. The initiative seeks to reconnect modern leadership ideals with these timeless values, ensuring that women continue to play a defining role in shaping the nation’s future.
Higher Education Institutions are requested to participate in the Bharati-Nari to Narayani initiative — a national convention of women thought leaders.
The initiative serves as a collaborative national platform to deliberate on self-reliance, inclusive leadership, and holistic… pic.twitter.com/HCDSHc3Fjd
— UGC INDIA (@ugc_india) February 13, 2026
According to the enclosed brochure of the UGC notice, the event will serve as a collaborative national platform where women thought leaders from diverse fields can deliberate on key themes such as self-reliance, inclusive leadership, and holistic national development.
Titled “Silent Strength to Strategic Force,” the two-day meeting intends not only to celebrate women’s achievements but also to foster innovative ideas, build partnerships, and contribute to India’s future growth trajectory. The convention organisers describe it as a space for deliberative and transformative dialogue, where women from various sectors can engage in meaningful discussions, share perspectives, and collaborate on solutions that promote equitable and sustainable development.
University Grants Commission’s Instructions to Institutions
In the official circular, the UGC has outlined key actions to be taken by HEIs:
Pre-Conference Academic Activities – The Commission has encouraged universities and colleges to organize pre-conference academic engagements involving faculty members, research scholars, and postgraduate students. These engagements may include:
- Panel discussions on topics related to women’s education, leadership, and empowerment,
- Poster presentations highlighting research or success stories of women leaders, and
- Visual biographies and audio-visual presentations focusing on women achievers.
These activities should be based on the eight themes outlined in the UGC letter, which cover issues such as knowledge as power, self-reliance (Atmanirbharata), workplace equity, social values, and grassroots empowerment strategies. Universities are urged to consolidate outcomes and recommendations from these activities and submit brief reports to the UGC. A copy must also be sent to the Secretary of the organising body so that the collective academic voice of the nation can be presented during the convention and integrated into a proposed National Recommendations Document.
Women Vice-Chancellors’ Meet – A key highlight of the national convention will be a special forum for women Vice-Chancellors and senior women administrators. The UGC has called for active participation by women academic leaders across HEIs in a dedicated dialogue on higher education leadership, governance, and gender-responsive policy frameworks.
This meeting is expected to facilitate peer learning, the sharing of best practices, and collaborative thinking around strategies to enhance women’s representation and influence in academic leadership roles. It also aligns with ongoing national efforts to expand opportunities for women in education administration.
Faculty Nominations – In addition to institutional engagement, the UGC has requested each HEI to nominate two faculty members to attend the convention in New Delhi. These faculty representatives will:
- Participate in panel discussions and academic sessions,
- Share institutional perspectives and best practices, and
- Serve as nodal persons responsible for translating the convention’s insights back into academic engagement within their institutions.
This approach is expected to ensure that the deliberations and recommendations from the national convention translate into ongoing, sustained initiatives across campuses nationwide.
Broader Themes and Expectations
The UGC document’s enclosed brochure lays out eight thematic areas that will guide discussions and activities:
- Knowledge as Power – emphasizing the need for expanded access to higher education, particularly for women, and reducing drop-out rates.
- Atmanirbharta (Self-reliance) – focusing on women’s financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment.
- Liberating Self – addressing psychological freedom, emotional intelligence, and resilience.
- The ‘She’ Energy – confronting workplace inequality, inclusion, and fair opportunity structures.
- Nature to Nurture (Respecting the “She”) – focusing on women’s health, lifecycle needs, and supportive ecosystems.
- Strengthening the Roots – highlighting women’s role in nurturing cultural values and societal well-being.
Stories of Success – showcasing achievements that often go unacknowledged in history and society. - Plan of Action – translating dialogue into implementable policies and sustained frameworks for impact.
Alongside these themes, the brochure specifies expected outcomes, including key policy recommendations to be submitted to the Government of India, the creation of ongoing platforms for women thought leaders, and the formation of sector-wise collectives to guide future initiatives. The UGC’s strong endorsement of the Bharti – Nari to Narayani initiative reflects its commitment to leverage the intellectual strength of academic institutions in advancing women’s leadership and inclusion across sectors. By integrating higher education into the national dialogue on women’s empowerment, the convention aims to foster cross-sector collaboration, policy innovation, and grassroots engagement.
For universities and colleges nationwide, the convention represents an opportunity to contribute to policy shaping, academic discourse, and the larger narrative of nation-building with women at the forefront.
