Why in news:

• Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU) professor Dr Ashish Baldi has been given a national award by President Droupadi Murmu during an event held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Key Points:

• Notably, Dr Ashish Baldi was among the 13 educators who received national awards this year. The award winners also held an interactive session with the Prime Minister.
• Dr Ashish Baldi has been given the award for his research on farmer suicides in Punjab and breast cancer. As Director of IQAC and Dean of Research and Development, Dr Ashish Baldi leads NAAC Accreditation, ARIIA Ranking, and NIRF Innovation Ranking for Pharmacy.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University

• Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda (Erstwhile Maharaja Ranjit Singh State Technical University, Bathinda) is an affiliating Technical University, established by Government of Punjab.
• With spontaneous upswing in demand for quality Technical Education, burgeoning pressure on the Premier Technical University of Punjab, Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala, to mitigate regional imbalance in distribution of Temples of quality Technical Education in the State, for exponential socio-economic growth of the Malwa region, to bridge the gap between demand and supply of employable technical human resource, exigency for creation of a new State Technical University in Punjab was realized.
• Consequent on the implementation of this Act, Technical institutions of eleven districts of Punjab have been affiliated to MRSPTU with effect of 1st July, 2015 including Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur and Sri Muktsar Sahib.
• The objectives of this new Technical University at Bathinda are to provide, upgrade and promote quality technical education, training and research in Technical Education to create entrepreneurship and a conducive environment for the pursuit of Technical Education in close cooperation with industry.
• In the pursuit of creating excellence in Teaching, Research and Skill Development, the University has to attain highest standards by following and conforming to norms/standards policies laid down by the All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi and University Grants Commission, New Delhi.
• As an outcome of the above endeavours, the University generates and maintains resources through consultancy services, testing services, Continuing Education Programmes, national and international collaborations, MoUs, transfer of intellectual property rights, etc. MRSPTU is mandated to cater to the needs of quality technical education in eleven districts of Punjab encompassed in its jurisdiction.