Inauguration of Pillai University, Navi Mumbai on 10 February 2026

Pillai University, Navi Mumbai, promoted by the Mahatma Education Society, will be formally inaugurated on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, at the Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai Campus, New Panvel, in the presence of senior leaders from the Government of Maharashtra, elected representatives, and distinguished dignitaries from the education and public administration sectors.

The inauguration ceremony will be graced by Chandrakant Dada Patil, Hon'ble Minister for Higher & Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra, as the Chief Guest.

The event will also be attended by Hon'ble Members of the Legislative Assembly and Council, including Prashant Ramsheth Thakur, Mahesh Baldi, Vikrant Patil, along with B. Venugopal Reddy, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher & Technical Education Department and Mangesh Pandurang Chitale, Municipal Commissioner, Panvel Municipal Corporation.

The formal programme will commence at 5:00 PM with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by addresses from dignitaries, the unveiling of commemorative plaques, and the official inauguration of Pillai University. The ceremony will also include the swearing-in of the President and Executive President of Pillai University.

Earlier in the day, visiting dignitaries will be taken on a guided tour of the campus, academic facilities, laboratories, and exhibitions showcasing student innovation, research initiatives, and institutional milestones.

Pillai University marks a significant milestone in Maharashtra's higher education landscape, with a focus on global academic collaboration, research-driven learning, technology-enabled education, and skill development aligned with national priorities such as Viksit Bharat 2047. Pillai University has been established under Act No. 45 of 2025, which was duly passed by the Maharashtra Legislature in 1st September 2025, formally granting the University its statutory status.

Members of the press are cordially invited to cover this landmark event.

Date: Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Venue: Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai Campus, Sector 16, New Panvel, Navi Mumbai

Reporting Time for Media: 3:15 PM

Introduction to Mahatma Education Society

The Mahatma Education Society embarked upon its mission of "Education for all" with the Chembur English High School in the year 1970 by Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai and Dr Daphne Pillai.

Institutional Highlights

• Started Chembur English High School in 1970 in Chembur as a primary school with 20 students.
• Established Mahatma School of Academics and Sports in 1986 in New Panvel
• Established KM Vasudevan Pillai campus with the establishment of Pillai College of Architecture in 1992 in New Panvel as the first unaided architecture programme in Maharashtra
• Currently has 13 higher educational colleges and 10 schools with over 30000 students and 3000 teachers and staff in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Rasayani
• Currently running 2 international schools, 2 CBSE schools, 3 state board schools and 2 Marathi Medium Schools, 1 Night Junior College catering to the needs of all sections of society.
• All 13 higher educational college are accredited by NAAC with 5 colleges with A+ grade, 6 colleges with A grade. 9 of the colleges are now autonomous and 1 empowered autonomous college. Its Engineering college has NIRF Innovation Ranking in Band B 151-300.
• Has the highest number of PhD seats within University of Mumbai across various disciplines such Engineering, Architecture, Management, Arts, Commerce, Education etc.
• Established the first State Private University namely Pillai University in Navi Mumbai in 2025

Research Highlights

• MES actively supports research programmes and consultancy across its institutions
• It has supported projects using Artificial Intelligence, Drones, Medical Devices and Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Cyber Security, Urban Planning and many more by setting up of advanced research laboratories
• It provides active funding for research projects within its institutions as well as encourages faculty to raise funds from external sources
• It has tied up with MGM Medical and Dental College to provide engineering and technical support to surgeons performing complex surgeries by making 3D scans of broken bones and providing guidance to the surgeons.
• Under Swatch Maharashtra Mission it has provided consultancy to Tata Consulting Engineers to conduct drone surveys of dumping ground sites in western Maharashtra.
• It has tied up with Panvel Municipal Corporation to develop and app called Swatchatha Har Kadam that helps the corporation monitor the cleanliness of public toilets in its jurisdiction.
• It has tied up with Navi Mumbai and Nashik police to conduct cyber security training for police officers and constables. Have developed website and database to support the same.
• It has tied with various Foreign Universities for research such as

o New York University and UN Habitat to start a center in Urban Expansion that uses GIS and remote sensing around the world

o University of Twente, Netherlands to study Urban Deprivation through its IdeaMaps Project

o Conducts Harvard University Online training courses on Campus

Social Service Highlights

• During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-21), MES institutions actively supported communities through developing PPE for police and other first responders, conducted awareness programs, health education initiatives, and developed websites for the police.
• MES teams have also participated in flood-relief efforts, providing essential support to affected families in Maharashtra and other regions.
• Through extension activities and NSS programs, MES has contributed to sanitation and hygiene initiatives, including support for the construction of toilets for girl students in villages in Maharashtra, reinforcing dignity, safety, and access to education.
• Annually MES conducts Uber Rang and community service days where each institution brings sections of underserved communities for a day of entertainment and raise funds for these communities.

About Dr KM Vasudevan Pillai

Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai is the Founder and Chairman of the Mahatma Education Society's Pillai Group of Institutions which runs 48 institutions spanning pre-primary schools to institutions of higher education across six campuses in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Dr. Pillai holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Mumbai. With the zeal of a crusader and the spirit of a visionary, he has consistently ventured into areas of incipient development, working to enhance the socio-economic status of local communities through education.

He is the author of EduNation, a seminal work that presents a blueprint for building a developed and empowered nation through education, reflecting his long-term vision for India's future.

Today, the Mahatma Education Society provides employment to over 3000 people and imparts education to more than 30,000 students annually, continuing its mission of nation-building through quality education.

About Dr Daphne Pillai

Dr. Daphne Pillai is the Chairperson of the Management Board of Mahatma Education Society and Co-Founder of the Pillai Group of Institutions which runs 48 educational institutions.

She has a doctorate in Gender Studies from the University of Mumbai and has been the recipient of several awards from the University of Mumbai, Department of Commerce for her contribution to establishing Global linkages in Education to give students a cross cultural business perspective.

She founded the NGO, Soroptimist International of Bombay-Chembur (SIBC) in the year 1997 with the objective of helping marginalised women, specially women who lost out on the first chance in Education through the project ‘The Power of A Second Chance.' This is done through ‘Adult Literacy Drives', and ‘Skill Based Education' which empowers women to becoming financially independent.

She represented the Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 62) in 2018.

In keeping with the changing ecosystem of the country where the climate is charged with the entrepreneurship spirit, Dr. Daphne Pillai founded the ‘Forum of Women in Commerce and Industry' affiliated to the International Women's Federation of Commerce and Industry (IWFCI), a Federation which works globally to promote entrepreneurship among women. She was nominated President of the IWFCI India National Chapter at the ‘Global Women's Trade Summit' held in Mongolia in 2018.

She is a recipient of many awards, the most prestigious being the ASSOCHAM ‘Woman Achiever of the Year' award which was jointly awarded with the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India and which was conferred on her by the Hon Union Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani in New Delhi in November 2019.

Prominent Alumni

1. Suryakumar Yadav (Indian Cricketer and Team Captain)

2. Rahul Bekhe (Indian Footballer and Team Captain)

3. Nikhil Poojary (Indian Footballer)

4. Anyonika Paul (International Rifle Shooter)

5. Suman Rao (Femina Miss India 2019)

6. Aishwarya Shridhar (International Wildlife Photographer)