Prof Soniya Nityanand Gets 2nd Term as KGMU VC

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Monday, 10 August 2026

Prof Soniya Nityanand became the first vice-chancellor of King George’s Medical University (KGMU) to be appointed for a second consecutive term.

“A continued second term gives an edge as there is no time needed to understand things on the campus, which is why I feel to work even better,” Prof Soniya said.

“Coming years, we shall focus on finishing ongoing projects fast and improve further patient care, academics and research. Digitization is yet another area for which we will soon be going to collaborate with University of Manitoba, Canada, for entire patient records. This to make working smarter and easy,” she said, sharing her focus for the next three years.

The reappointment of Prof Soniya, an eminent haematologist and KGMU alumna, comes at an important juncture with the university having made significant gains in academics and healthcare while also facing challenges on the administrative and governance fronts. Prof Soniya first took charge as the KGMU VC on August 10, 2023.

Established in 1905, the institution has had 36 principals. Since attaining university status, it has had 12 vice chancellors.

Key Highlights:

• Prof Soniya becomes the first KGMU vice-chancellor to secure a second consecutive term
• KGMU improved its NIRF ranking from 18th to 8th under her leadership
• Her second term will focus on patient care, research, academics and digitization

Her first term saw several notable achievements. These included the university securing NAAC A++ accreditation and expanding robotic surgery across various departments. The tenure was also marked by controversies and instances of high-level administrative action.

Prof Soniya began first tenure with the objective of strengthening patient care, raising academic standards, expanding specialized medical services and improving the university’s ranking.

During her first term, the university rose from 18th to 8th position in the NIRF rankings, securing a place among India’s top 10 medical institutions. Nearly 190 subsidized robotic surgeries were performed under a CSR-supported program, while the university’s liver, kidney and bone marrow transplant programs also gained momentum. The Level-1 Trauma Centre was upgraded, and Hospital Revolving Fund (HRF) pharmacy services were expanded to improve patients’ access to affordable medicines.

“KGMU witnessed significant progress in academics, patient care and infrastructure during the last three years. The focus now will be international ranking in the coming years,” KGMU spokesperson Prof KK Singh said.

With her second term, Prof Soniya is expected to build on the progress achieved during her first tenure. Her focus will remain on strengthening patient care, advancing medical education and research, and completing key infrastructure projects.

The proposed collaboration with the University of Manitoba will also support KGMU’s digital transformation by enabling better management of patient records. The initiative is expected to improve efficiency and make healthcare services more accessible and coordinated.

As KGMU moves into the next phase of its growth, Prof Soniya’s continued leadership is expected to help the institution strengthen its position in healthcare, academics and research while working toward greater national and international recognition.