Feather in cap: Magadh Mahila College in Patna. The educational institution has been recently conferred the College with Potential for Excellence status by UGC. Telegraph picture

Sept. 25: For the first time in its 94-year history, Patna University (PU) will reward its undergraduate toppers with gold medals during the institute’s foundation day celebrations this year.

Established on October 1, 1917, the seventh oldest university in the country has been felicitating its postgraduate toppers at its foundation day function. This time, the graduates would also have the golden glory at the annual event to be held on October 1 at Wheelers Senate Hall.

“For the first time the university will felicitate the subject-wise toppers at the undergraduate level with certificates and gold medals. The honour will be for those excelling in all the 39 undergraduate subjects under BA, BCom, BSc and vocational curriculum,” P.K. Poddar, the dean of the students’ welfare, PU, told The Telegraph.

“The university will select the undergraduate awardees on the basis of marks scored by them in the final-year examinations,” he added.

The idea to reward the undergraduate toppers with gold medals is the brainchild of the vice-chancellor of Patna University, Shambhu Nath Singh. The aim is to recognise the students’ hard work and encourage them to be competitive.

On October 1, PU will turn 95. The institute was established on the basis of a legislation dating back to 1917 and its jurisdiction extends up to Bihar, Orissa and Nepal.

On its 95th foundation day, PU is also planning to felicitate some of its retired teachers, who have created a niche for themselves. The institute has formed a three-member committee to select the retired teachers.

According to sources in the university, preparations are on in full swing to make the institute’s 95th foundation day a grand affair. A source said the university is planning to invite the chancellor of universities in Bihar, Devanand Konwar, or chief minister Nitish Kumar to grace the event as the chief guest.

Award for Magadh Mahila College

Magadh Mahila College has been honoured with the College with Potential for Excellence (CPE) status by the University Grants Commission (UGC) this year. The institution is the only college from the state to get the award and is among 50 institutions from across the country that have been identified under the scheme during its round-IV.

Magadh Mahila College principal Dolly Sinha told The Telegraph, “The selection process underwent three stages. The first was at the university level when PU recommended names of five colleges to the UGC. After verification in the second stage, UGC called two colleges affiliated to PU — Magadh Mahila College and BN College — and College of Commerce affiliated to Magadh University. The final selection took place after the third stage at an interface meeting on May 30.” On getting the CPE status, Magadh Mahila College has been granted a Rs 1-crore budget to improve its infrastructure and other facilities.