Vice-Chancellor

Prof. Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice Chancellor at Central Sanskrit University, is a distinguished academician, researcher and administrator in the field of Sanskrit studies and computational linguistics. He holds a Ph.D. in Nyāya and has extensive teaching, research and administrative experience spanning nearly three decades.

He has served as the Vice Chancellor of multiple esteemed institutions, including Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Gondwana University and Karnataka Sanskrit University. He has also held key positions such as Registrar, Director, Dean and Professor in various educational institutions, actively contributing to research and policy amendments in field of Sanskrit. Additionally, he has been a Research Associate at Language Technology Research Centre, IIT Hyderabad, focusing on Natural Language Processing research course involving computer science, Artificial Intelligence, western logic and linguistic and Indian Sastras.

Under his visionary leadership, Central Sanskrit University achieved the prestigious A++ grade from NAAC, was recognized as a Category I University by UGC and received his guidance for the transformation of Central Sanskrit University into a world-class institution for the establishment of the glory of Sanskrit learning in the global context, aligning with the vision of making Bharat a 'Vishwa Guru'.

Prof. Varakhedi has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Maharshi Badarayan Vyas Samman (2007) conferred by the President of India, the Dr. Goswami Girdhari Lal Sanskrit Gaurav Puraskar (2024), the Atal Ratna (2022) etc. Some of his other notable accolades include the D.Litt. (VidyaVachaspati Samman) 2022, honorary degree by Kavi KulguruKalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek, Honorary Degree (D.Litt.) 2024, awarded by Uttrakhand Sanskrit University, the Doctor of Literature (2024) from Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Jaipur, Honoris Causa Degree in Literature (2025) from the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, the Degree of Honoris Causa (2025) from Desh Bhagat University, Punjab and among many others.

A prolific writer and editor, Prof. Varakhedi has authored 16 complete books of which he has translated Sastrapaddhati in multiple Indian languages including Marathi, Hindi, Kannada. He has also contributed various chapters in books written in multiple Indian languages and English. Edited over 100 books, journals and research papers on Sanskrit philosophy, Nyāya, linguistics, and logic. Continuing his drive for innovation, he has mentored and guided over 25 scholars, including post-doctoral researchers, Ph.D. candidates, M.Phil. scholars and postgraduate students in various research projects.

Prof. Varakhedi has also served as a visiting faculty at several prestigious institutions, enriching students and scholars with his profound knowledge. He has been a Visiting Faculty at Sanchi University for Indology and Buddhist Studies, Madhya Pradesh; Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeetha, Veliyanad, Kerala; the School of Vedic Sciences, MIT Pune, at Vedavijnanagurukulam, Bangalore, Shri Ramakrishna Vivekananda University, Belur, Kolkata; the Department of Philosophy at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata; School of Exact Humanities, IIT, Hyderabad and Department of Philosophy at Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

He has also handled 10 Research projects as Principal Investigator, Project Director and Additional Coordinator. He has organized numerous national and international seminars and has been a keynote speaker and resource person at over 200 seminars, workshops, and events. Through these platforms, he has actively propagated the message of Bhartiya Gyan Parampara, religion, and philosophy to promote cultural peace, Guru-Shishya Parampara, Nyaya, Indic knowledge systems, and other profound aspects of India's intellectual traditions.

His contributions extend to his role as chairman or an active member of more than 110 national committees, academic bodies, and policy-making organizations, both currently and in recent years. Some of his notable engagements include serving as a Council Member and Governing Body Member at the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, an Expert Nominee in the Selection Committee at Jawaharlal Nehru University, a Member of the Equivalency Committee at the University of Delhi, an Executive Council Member at Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University, Chitrakoot, a Member of the Sanskrit Action-Plan Committee under MHRD/UGC, Expert Committee Member at the University Grants

Commission, a Member of the Academic Council of Banaras Hindu University and on the IoE- Governing Board of University of Hyderabad, among many others. Additionally, he is a Founder Member of the Sanskrit Digital Consortium, a Consultant on the Advisory Board for the Mahabharata Digitalization Project at Manipal University, among many more innovative projects.

He also serves as chairman and member of various committees of University Grants Commission, some of which includes, Committee on the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for skill-based courses under NSQF, Committee for the preparation of a roadmap for establishing the Prachaya Vidhya Koushall Parishad for the development of the Sanskrit language, Expert Committee for standardizing the syllabus of PG Certificate and Diploma Courses on Manuscriptology & Paleography in various colleges and universities and Bhartiya Bhasha Samvardhan Samiti, contributing to the promotion of Indian languages and knowledge system.

Following List showing the duration of Services performed by the Vice-Chancellor since the inception of the University.