By Akshay G Animesh

Rajgir/Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia | 11 June 2026

Nalanda University has strengthened the longstanding civilizational, cultural, and academic relationship between India and Mongolia through the signing of two significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with leading Mongolian institutions during a high-level academic engagement in Ulaanbaatar on 8–9 June.

The first MoU was signed on 8 June between Nalanda University and Gandantegchinlen Monastery (Gandan Monastery), Mongolia, at the historic Gandan Monastery in Ulaanbaatar. The agreement was formalized by Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, Vice Chancellor of Nalanda University, and H.E. Geshe Lharampa Javzandorj Dulamragchaa, Khamba Nomun Khan, Supreme Abbot and Head of Gandan Monastery.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of His Excellency Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh; His Excellency Mr. Atul Malhari Gotsurve, Ambassador of India to Mongolia; His Excellency Mr. B. Tserennadmid, Governor of Arkhangai Province; senior officials from the Government of India; and respected monks from various monasteries in India.

Rooted in centuries of shared Buddhist heritage, the partnership will promote joint research, academic exchanges, collaborative publications, and conferences. It also provides a framework for the study, preservation, and dissemination of rare Buddhist manuscripts, helping safeguard the intellectual and spiritual legacy of ancient Nālandā.

On 9 June, Nalanda University signed a second MoU with the National University of Mongolia (NUM) at the university’s campus in Ulaanbaatar. The agreement was signed by Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, Vice Chancellor, Nalanda University, and Professor Baatarchuluun Tsermaa, Vice President for Research and Cooperation, National University of Mongolia, in the presence of senior officials and representatives from both institutions.

The partnership will foster collaboration across diverse disciplines, including Dharma Studies, Buddhist Philosophy, Culture and Art, History, Ecology, Sanskrit and Tibetan Languages, Trade, and Economic History. It also envisages faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, academic programmes, and other knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Sachin Chaturvedi said that the agreements would create valuable opportunities for students and researchers in both countries by expanding avenues for global learning and collaborative scholarship. He noted that the partnerships reflect the enduring spirit of the ancient university and support the development of globally engaged citizens committed to peace, mutual understanding, and sustainable development.

The two MoUs mark an important step in advancing academic cooperation between India and Mongolia while reaffirming the shared cultural and Buddhist heritage that continues to connect the two nations.

Email to editor@gramintimes.in (Based on a Press Release)