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University of Edinburgh launches Dr APJ Abdul Kalam award
Annual honor will recognize the top-performing Indian postgraduate student in social and political science.
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Ankita Baidya - Fri, 10, Jul 2026
- 04:09 EDT
- 111
The University of Edinburgh has established the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Meritorious Award to recognize outstanding Indian postgraduate students. / The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh has established the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Meritorious Award, an annual honor recognizing the highest-performing Indian student enrolled in the university's School of Social and Political Science, according to the school.
The award commemorates the legacy of India's former president and scientist Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam while celebrating his longstanding association with the University of Edinburgh and the Indian community in Scotland, the university said.
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Beginning this academic year, the award will be presented annually to the highest-performing Indian student across the school's on-campus postgraduate taught programs. Recipients will be selected based on academic performance through the university's standard examination processes, according to the announcement.
To be eligible, students must have been residing in India immediately before joining the University of Edinburgh. Each recipient will receive a £1,000 cash prize and a certificate recognizing their academic achievement, the university said.
According to the School of Social and Political Science, the award also reflects Kalam's enduring connection with the institution. In 2014, he attended the inaugural conference of the Edinburgh India Institute as chief guest and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university.
At the time, then Principal and Vice-Chancellor Sir Timothy O'Shea said the honorary degree recognized Kalam's "extraordinary work as a scientist, as a figurehead for his country and for working to tackle rural poverty and injustice over many years."
Professor George Palattiyil, Personal Chair of Social Work and Refugee Studies at the School of Social and Political Science, led the committee that established the award.
"It has been a real honour to lead the establishment of the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Meritorious Award at the University of Edinburgh," Palattiyil said in the university announcement.
He added that he was "deeply grateful to the Dean of the School of Social and Political Science, the Indian Consulate, Development and Alumni colleagues and the Indian Diaspora Committee for their generous support in bringing this idea to fruition."
According to the university's fundraising page, the committee overseeing fundraising and governance for the award includes Jasvir Singh, managing director of Spice Lounge Kitchen; Dr. Poonam Malik, co-founder of Microplate Dx Limited; Rajnish Singh, an IT consultant; Puneet Dwivedi MBE, president of the Indian National Students Association Scotland; Karthik Subramanya, senior advisor at Boston Consulting Group; Dr. Mridula Chakraborty MBE, general secretary of the Association of Indian Organisations; and Gopalan Rajagopalan, country head of Tata Consultancy Services Scotland.
The University of Edinburgh said it maintains strong and expanding links with India through research collaborations, academic partnerships, staff and student exchanges, and a growing Indian student community. The university also highlighted the historic Edinburgh Indian Association, founded in 1883 and regarded as the United Kingdom's first South Asian student association.
Kalam, widely known as the "Missile Man of India" for his contributions to India's missile and space programs, served as the country's 11th president from 2002 to 2007. He died in 2015 and continues to be remembered for his contributions to science, education and public service, according to the University of Edinburgh.
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