Jamia Millia Islamia gets Rs 14.8-cr grant for electric vehicle, cybersecurity labs

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has been awarded a grant of Rs 14.8 crore by the Ministry of Minority Affairs under the Prime Minister’s Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) to establish two advanced research facilities: a Research Lab for Electric Vehicles (EV) and a Cybersecurity Training Lab.

Of the total grant, Rs 9.05 crore has been allocated for the establishment of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Research Lab, which will be led by Prof. Ahteshamul Haque from the Department of Electrical Engineering. Meanwhile, Rs 5.75 crore has been earmarked for the Cybersecurity Lab, which would be overseen by Dr Shane Kazim Naqvi, Director of the FTK-Centre for Information Technology.

The initiative aims to strengthen India’s efforts towards self-reliance in the fields of electric mobility and cybersecurity.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mazhar Asif, said the projects represent a significant step towards advancing national priorities. “These two initiatives will play a crucial role in fostering indigenous talent in the electric vehicles and cybersecurity sectors. They will expose our students and professionals to cutting-edge technologies, allowing JMI to contribute meaningfully to these domains at the national level,” he said, expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Minority Affairs for its financial backing.

The registrar, Prof Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi, remarked the new labs would create dynamic platforms for learning, collaboration and hands-on training. “These facilities will provide students and researchers with access to state-of-the-art tools and technologies, enabling them to tackle real-world challenges,” he said, congratulating the project teams for securing the grant.

Outlining the objectives of the EV Lab, Prof Haque said the project would focus on developing a world-class research facility, setting up a functional EV charging station on campus and establishing a skill development centre to train the future workforce in alignment with NITI Aayog’s 2030 policy.

Meanwhile, Dr Naqvi noted the Cybersecurity Lab aligns with the Government of India’s National Cybersecurity Strategy, aiming to build a skilled and technically adept workforce capable of securing critical digital infrastructure.

Both principal investigators expressed gratitude to the university administration for its support, emphasising the initiative would position JMI as a hub for innovation and skill development in two of the country’s fastest-growing technology sectors.