ICSSR NWRC KEY OFFICE ADMINISTRATORS
Prof. Madhukarbhai S. Padvi, Chairman, ICSSR, New Delhi
Prof. Madhukarbhai S. Padvi is a distinguished academician and administrator currently serving as the first Vice Chancellor of Birsa Munda Tribal University in Rajpipla, Gujarat, a position he has held since December 15, 2020. With an extensive academic background including an M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D., Dr. Padvi has dedicated his career to higher education and the advancement of tribal learning. Under his visionary leadership, Birsa Munda Tribal University has achieved rapid academic and infrastructural milestones, including the successful implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP-2020) and the ongoing construction of the university campus.
Before his tenure as Vice Chancellor, Dr. Padvi spent over three decades at M.T.B. Arts College in Surat, where he served as a Lecturer and Professor of Hindi starting in 1986. He eventually rose to lead the institution as Principal from 2012 to 2020. During his leadership, the college achieved a NAAC “A” Grade and secured a prestigious ₹1 crore development grant through the CPE Award in 2010. His administrative expertise is further reflected in his extensive involvement with Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU), where he served as a Senate member, Chairman of the Board of Studies for Hindi and Comparative Literature, and a member of the Academic Council.
An accomplished scholar, Dr. Padvi has authored 13 books and published 52 research articles, contributing significantly to the field of Hindi literature and education. He has presented 44 papers at various conferences and has been invited as a guest lecturer on 25 occasions. His contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Sahitya Bhushan, the International Hindi Mitra Samman, and the Ratansihji Mahida Memorial Award for his dedication to tribal education.
On national level, Dr. Padvi holds several influential advisory roles. Since 2023, he has served as a Non-Ex-Officio Member of the ICSSR in New Delhi and acts as an advisor for the ICSSR West Zone in Mumbai. He is also a member of the National Commission for Women Advisory Committee for 2025 and a member for Gujarati at the National Book Trust. His commitment to social and environmental causes is evidenced by his recognition as a Green District Champion and his active participation in national workshops for tribal development.
Professor Meenakshi Goyal, Chairperson, ICSSR North-Western Regional Centre, Chandigarh, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh
Professor (Dr.) Meenakshi Goyal is discharging the responsibilities of Vice-Chancellor of Panjab
University since 29th July 2026 and Chairperson of ICSSR – North Western Regional Centre,
Chandigarh. Prior to this, she has held several key positions at Panjab University, including Dean of University Instruction, Director of the Research & Development Cell, Dean Faculty of Engineering Technology, Chief Librarian (Additional Charge) of A.C. Joshi Library, Chairperson of Dr. S. S. Bhatnagar University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology (Dr. SSBUICET), Honorary Director of the Energy Research Centre, and Coordinator, TEQIP-II project MHRD, Govt. of India.
With a teaching and research experience of more than 34 years, Professor Meenakshi Goyal holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and Technology (Chemical Engineering) in the area of Science ; Technology of Carbon from Panjab University, Chandigarh. She has an outstanding academic record, having earned her B.E. (Chemical Engg.) with Honours from Panjab University, Chandigarh. She has successfully guided 11 Ph.D. scholars and has more than 100 research and international conference publications to her credit. Her exemplary leadership has been recognised with several prestigious awards, includingthe Bharat Vidya Shiromani Award in 2015, Global Faculty Award, 2021 and the Golden Aim Award for Iconic Education Leader in 2022. Under her Chairpersonship, Dr. SSBUICET was ranked 100th
among engineering institutes by NIRF in 2016 and was awarded Best Engineering Institute (North) by ABP for two consecutive years, 2015 ; 2016.
Professor Meenakshi Goyal has significant experience in conceiving projects for arranging grants from various agencies. She spearheaded the World Bank-funded Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP-II), by MHRD, securing a grant of Rs.10 crore for Dr. SSB UICET. P.U.
Professor Meenakshi Goyal has spearheaded several key positions and initiatives in Panjab University, leveraging her extensive administrative and academic expertise.
Dean of University Instruction, Panjab University.
Chief Librarian (Additional Charge), A.C.Joshi Library, Panjab University.
National Education Policy (NEP) Alignment & Events
Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Facility
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA 2.0)
Cyber Security Laboratory was established to support cutting-edge
research and skill development.
AI Data Centre at the Design Innovation Centre, UIET, funded via a CSR grant
from the Vardhman Group.
Additionally, she facilitated advanced academic scholarships by aiding to secure
two prestigious Ph.D. fellowships under the India AI Mission. She Signed various MoUs on behalf of Panjab University with different organisations and institutes within India and abroad.
Professor Dhananjay Singh
Prof. Dhananjay Singh is the Member Secretary, Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi. He graduated in English from Government College, Itanagar, Arunachal University, in 1995, and did his M.A in English from Arunachal University, Itanagar, in 1997. He was awarded the Gold Medal by the University for his excellent academic performance during his MA. He completed his M.Phil. and Ph.D. research in English from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, in 2003 and 2007 respectively. His research was in the domain of literary and cultural studies.
Prof. Singh started his teaching career at Sri Aurobindo College, University of Delhi, in August-September 2006 and thereafter taught at Satyawati College, University of Delhi from September 2006 to December 2007. He joined the Centre for English Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, as a faculty in 2007, and headed the centre as its Chairperson from January 2019 to January 2023. He served as the Associate Dean of the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies from May 2021 to January 23, 2023. He also served as Associate Dean of Students, JNU, (November 2017 to September 2019) and Chief Proctor of JNU (November 2019 to May 2021). He served as the Warden at Chandrabhaga Hostel, Jawaharlal Nehru University (September 2010 to May 2017).
Early in his teaching and research career, Prof. Singh worked, as Assistant Editor, in the prestigious project titled The Encyclopedia of Indian Poetics, with Dr. Kapil Kapoor as the Chief Editor, a project of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, & Union Academique Internationale (UAI), Brussels. He was also Assistant Editor, with Dr. Kapil Kapoor as the Chief Editor, of Mutual Regards: Indo-Irish Anthology, a collaborative project involving Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and the University of Ulster at Colerain (Ireland).
Prof. Singh has taught MA and PhD courses in JNU on Research Methodology; Sanskrit Poetics; Comparative Poetics; English Literary Criticism; Life, Literature and Thought-19th Century; Indian Aesthetics; Indian Philosophy of Language; Bharata’s Natyashastra, Anandavardhan’s Dhvanyaloka; South Asian Fiction; Canadian Fiction; Creative Writing; Irish Drama; and Irish Poetry and Fiction. He has supervised 23 PhD theses and 20 M.Phil. dissertations.
Prof. Singh has been invited to deliver talks and present papers in national and international conferences by prestigious institutes and universities in India as well as outside India such as University of Tubingen, Germany, University of Wurzburg, Germany, University of Grenoble, France, etc. Several of his research papers on language, literature, and other areas of cultural studies have been published by prestigious publications such as Palgrave Macmillan, Springer Nature, Sahitya Akademi, and Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla.
Prof. Singh is the author of the monographs Fables in the Indian Narrative Tradition: An Analytical Study (D.K. Printworld, 2011), The Poetics of Theatre in Early India (D.K. Printworld, 2021) and the forthcoming Philosophy of Performance in India (Bloomsbury).
Prof. Singh has been Visiting Professor at University of Bergamo, Italy; International Visiting Fellow at Grinnell College, Grinnell, IOWA, USA; and Visiting Research Fellow at Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin. For his research on Seamus Heaney and Buddhist epistemology in a comparative framework, he was awarded Research Secondment by the European Union’s Marie Curie International Research Exchange Scheme to the Project “Social Performance, Cultural Trauma and Reestablishing Solid Sovereignties (SPECTRESS),” at Trinity College Dublin in May-July 2017.
Prof. Singh’s poems have appeared in literary journals Muse India and South Asian Ensemble.
Presently, Prof. Singh is the President of the Association of Asian Social Science Research Councils (AASSREC). He represented the country at the 42nd General Conference on Social and Human Sciences (SHS) of UNESCO, at UNESCO, Paris. He also participated in the Global Forum on Ethics of Artificial Intelligence organised by UNESCO in collaboration with the Government of Slovenia at Brdo, Slovenia.
He is also serving as the Director (Additional Charge) of the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, New Delhi.
Professor Upasna Joshi Sethi
Upasna Joshi Sethi, Honorary Director ICSSR-NWRC, Chandigarh
Professor, University Institute of Applied Management Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh
Email: upasnajs@pu.ac.in
An accomplished academic professional with over 27 years of experience in teaching, research, and administration. Known for exceptional presentation, research, and communication skills, with a strong commitment to optimizing the academic journey of students. A specialist in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour, with seven years of administrative leadership as Head of Departments, contributing significantly to the academic community.
MBA, Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations, UGC-NET qualification, and a Ph.D. in management.
Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour serve as core areas of teaching, research, and institutional development.
Ex-Director of the University Institute of Applied Management Sciences, Panjab University (December 25, 2017 – December 24, 2020). Contributions include developing UIAMS as a Research Centre with the introduction of a doctoral program in 2018 and launching a pioneering MBA program in Capital Markets. Organized two Faculty Development Programs (FDPs), five workshops, one national seminar, and a short-term course durinr the tenure of Direcror at UIAMS. Coordinated the SWAYAM program, establishing the infrastructure for online course delivery. Oversaw Undergraduate and Postgraduate Examinations in December 2019. Member of the Library Committee from April 2020 to March 2022.
Active participation in key Panjab University committees, including National Digital Initiatives in Higher Education by MHRD, Skill Development Board, Research Board in the Faculty of Business Management and Commerce, Board of Studies in UIAMS, Postgraduate Board of Studies in Business Management and Commerce, Student Aid Fund Administrative Committee, University Leave Committee, and University Investment Committee.
She served as Head of Punjabi University Regional Centre for Information Technology and Management (PURCITM), Mohali Campus (February 10, 2012 – December 31, 2015). Contributions include membership in committees such as Faculty of Business Studies, Board of Postgraduate Studies in Business Management, and departmental purchase and administrative committees. Responsibilities included coordinating admission processes, anti-ragging initiatives, and departmental purchases.
Published more than 55 research papers in SCOPUS-indexed, ABDC and UGC-Care listed journals.
Authored two books namely “India’s Global Ascendancy: Confluence of Innovation and Sustainability” (2020) and “Antecedents of Leadership Behaviour – Its Influences on Quality of Work Life and Organisational Commitment” (2009).
Led major research projects sponsored by UGC and ICSSR, focusing on work-life balance among female executives in commercial banks and organizational citizenship behaviour in the telecom sector.
Supervised and guided 11 Ph.D. research scholars.
Editorial board member and reviewer for various national and international academic journals.
Life member of Society for Commerce & Education, National Institute of Personnel Management, Indian Commerce Association, and All India Management Association – Chandigarh Chapter.
Recipient of the prestigious “Kulpati Award” for securing the Overall 1st position in the Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations at the Rajendra Prasad Institute of Management & Communication.
Active involvement in selection committees as a subject expert for affiliated colleges. Contributions to inspection committees to various colleges of Punjab for granting affiliations. Reviewer for academic journals and editorial board member for various publications.
STAFF
Permanent Staff of ICSSR-NWRC
Mr. Vinod Sharma – Library Assistant
Mr. Chuni Lal – Bearer-cum-Masalchi / Chowkidar-cum-Attendant
Mrs. Baby – Safaikaramchari
Contractual Staff of ICSSR-NWRC
Ms. Tanuja Mehta – Office Assistant
Mr. Harinder Singh – Clerk
Mr. Surbir Singh – Cook
Mr. Kundal Singh – MTS
