NIPER Hajipur hosts 7th convocation, awards degrees to 114 scholars

Patna: As many as 114 scholars, including 43 women, received their coveted degrees at the 7th annual convocation of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hajipur, on Saturday. Among them, six scholars got doctorate degrees, and seven were awarded gold medals for their exceptional academic performance.Amit Agrawal, secretary of the department of pharmaceuticals, GoI, graced the occasion as the chief guest. In his address, he urged the graduating pharmacists to uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity, emphasising that India's rise as a global superpower must be rooted not only in economic strength but also in cultural and human values. He lauded India's contributions to global healthcare during the Covid-19 pandemic and expressed confidence that the dedication of young scholars would help India achieve developed nation status by 2047.Mihir Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary of the state industries department, highlighted the vast potential of the pharmaceutical sector in Bihar, citing a domestic market exceeding Rs 30,000 crore. He noted that the expansion of Patna Medical College and the establishment of new medical colleges would further boost opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry.NIPER director K Ruckmani presented the academic report for 2024–2025, showcasing the institute's achievements, including its 30th rank in the NIRF 2025 pharmacy category. The event was also attended by Vaishali DM Varsha Singh, state drug controller Nityanand Kishloya, and chairman of NIPER's board of governors, Samit Chattopadhyay.Gold medal recipients included Prachi Arun Deshmukh (pharmaceutics), Marepally Chandrika (regulatory toxicology), Vaishnavi Ramakant Dhampalwar (pharmaceutics), Anakha Saji (pharmacy practice), Pravin Kumar (pharmacology and toxicology), Patil Divya (biotechnology), and Prajwal Sunil Pagare (biopharmaceuticals).