How we work with health institutions, reach our local community, and care for the health of our students and staff, alongside the health research that comes out of our labs.
UPES report on Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being.
Good health and well-being runs through everything UPES does. The university trains health professionals, produces research used by governments worldwide, cares for the health of more than 20,000 students and employees, takes health care into nearby villages, and opens its campus and grounds to the community. This report brings that work together.
The School of Health Sciences and Technology trains pharmacists, nutritionists, laboratory scientists and healthcare managers, and 842 faculty participations in AI-for-health programmes in 2024–25 keep teaching current.
UPES researchers contribute to the Global Burden of Disease studies in The Lancet, and are developing a low-cost cervical cancer screening device, diagnostics for diabetes and heart attack, and new drug candidates.
Every student has free, confidential medical care and counselling around the clock, with ₹1,00,000 of insurance. Staff and their families have a 24×7 counselling programme, and weekly Heartfulness meditation is open to all.
Students and staff run free medical camps, a mobile medical van with Sewa Bharti since 2008, blood donation drives, and menstrual health programmes that have reached about 1,200 women in nearby villages.
Agreements with AIIMS Rishikesh, Doon Medical College, Taipei Medical University and others bring joint research, internships and international expertise, while partners such as Practo and Max Healthcare support staff and student health.
The campus is fully smoke-free, sports grounds are shared free of charge with government teams, schools and players with disabilities, and UPES is ranked among India's Great Mid-size Workplaces.
UPES researchers publish widely on health, from cancer and infectious disease to AI diagnostics and drug discovery. These figures cover UPES research publications on health (source: Scopus).
UPES research is reaching patients and policy: from global disease estimates used by governments, to a low-cost cancer screening device for women in remote villages.
Number of health papers on each theme (a paper can appear under more than one).
| Theme | Papers |
|---|---|
| Cancer | 277 |
| Infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance | 272 |
| AI and digital health | 166 |
| Drug discovery and delivery | 114 |
| Environment and health | 114 |
| Mental health and neuroscience | 84 |
| Diabetes and metabolic disease | 79 |
| Women's and maternal health | 77 |
| Cardiovascular health | 35 |
| Nutrition and food | 27 |
UPES researchers contribute to the Global Burden of Disease studies in The Lancet and other leading journals. The most cited papers are:
The full list of publications, with links, is in the annexure.
Dr Nidhi Chauhan and her team in the School of Health Sciences and Technology won a BIRAC grant to set up the SWACHH (Social Wellness, Agriculture, Clean and Hospitable Habitat) Incubation Centre, the first SPARSH-BIRAC centre in Uttarakhand. Over five years it will mentor young social innovators building affordable prototypes in public health, climate resilience and farm-to-plate food.
PhD scholar Reema Rawat and Prof Ashish Mathur developed a low-cost portable device that screens for cervical cancer, funded by the Department of Science and Technology, so women in remote areas without advanced hospitals can be tested. Reema also built an ultrasensitive sensor for the HER-2 breast cancer biomarker, published in Nanoscale (2025), which won a UPES PhD Spotlight Award, and she received the FABA Young Innovator Award 2024.
Prof Padma Venkat, Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Technology, uses traditional herbs and fruits to address anaemia and nutrition. Her work also includes a copper-based water purification device and training rural women in green technologies, safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Dr Manisha Mohan's PhD, supervised by Dr Naveen Kumar, showed how immersive media and game-based learning can build empathy among nursing professionals in India. It won the UPES PhD Best Thesis Award.
Prof Ashwini K. Nangia, Dean of Research and Development, received the Visitor's Award for Research 2023 for developing pharmaceutical cocrystals that make drugs more soluble and effective at lower cost. The approach suits India's generic drug industry and supports affordable treatment for diabetes, heart disease and cancer, with several candidates in the clinical pipeline.
Four School of Health Sciences and Technology researchers won ANRF Early Career Research Grants in 2025 for health projects (R&D Newsletter Jan–Jun 2025[3]).
An AI-powered wearable for early detection of menstrual disorders such as PCOS and endometriosis, to be validated in clinical trials.
An affordable point-of-care nano-biosensor for early detection of diabetes and heart attack (acute myocardial infarction).
Dual PDE1B/PDE10A inhibitors as new drug candidates for schizophrenia, targeting symptoms current medicines treat poorly.
Nanoparticles that activate MLK3 in the heart to prevent heart failure caused by high blood pressure.
In UPES's mapping of its intellectual property to the Sustainable Development Goals, Good Health and Well-being is the fourth-largest of the ten goals the portfolio covers, after industry and innovation, affordable and clean energy, and sustainable cities (UPES R&D, December 2025).
The School of Health Sciences and Technology trains the professionals that hospitals, laboratories and the pharmaceutical industry need. Its programmes span pharmacy, nutrition, laboratory science, operation-theatre technology, biotechnology and healthcare management.
| Level | Programmes |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | B.Pharm.; B.Sc.; Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (BND); B.Tech.; Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (B.MLS); Bachelor of Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology (B.AOTT) |
| Postgraduate | M.Sc.; MBA in Healthcare Management |
| Doctoral | PhD in Health Sciences |
| International pathway | A 5-year accelerated MD pathway with the Medical University of the Americas, announced in July 2025 |
Faculty development keeps teaching current: from 26 to 30 May 2025, 32 faculty completed a five-day programme on healthcare analytics with SAS Institute India.
In 2024–25, faculty development programmes on artificial intelligence in health care drew 842 participations from faculty across UPES.
| Programme | Dates | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Learning and Optimization for Healthcare | 24 February – 4 March 2025 | 265 |
| Artificial Intelligence for Image Processing and Medical Applications | 3–7 March 2025 | 215 |
| Empowering Smart Healthcare with Deep Learning: From Data to Diagnosis (first run) | 9–13 June 2025 | 148 |
| Empowering Smart Healthcare with Deep Learning: From Data to Diagnosis (second run) | 9–29 June 2025 | 150 |
| Advancing Healthcare with Explainable AI | 23–30 June 2025 | 64 |
| Healthcare Analytics and Life Sciences with SAS | 26–30 May 2025 | 32 |
| Lecture | Date | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| UPES Health Sciences Talk Series: "One Health Research: From Ecosystem to Sustainability", Dr Veeranoot Nissapatorn | 2 August 2024 | 100 |
| "AMR and its Impact" (antimicrobial resistance), Dr Abu Rehan | 21 November 2024 | 100 |
| Masterclass "Immunotherapy: A Century of Antibodies", Dr Srini Kaveri | 21 November 2024 | 100 |
Source: UPES Annual Report 2024–25[47]
UPES works with health institutions locally, nationally and internationally to improve health outcomes through joint research, training and innovation.
Partnerships multiply what UPES can do alone, taking doctors to villages, students into hospitals, and international expertise into Dehradun classrooms.
UPES's health partnerships run from village health care to international research.
| Partner | Type | Since | What it delivers | Who benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sewa Bharti | NGO | 2008 | Free medical mobile van for villages near campus | Residents of villages near campus |
| Mahant Indresh Hospital and IMA Dehradun | Hospital and medical association | April 2024 | Blood collection drive on campus | Patients who need blood: 1,303 units collected in three days |
| Doon Medical College, Dehradun | Medical college | — | Joint research, student and scholar exchange, joint conferences, internships | UPES students and researchers |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | National medical institute | December 2021 | Long-term alliance for Uttarakhand health infrastructure; joint research in microbiology, biochemistry and clinical research; exchanges and internships | UPES students and faculty, and the people of Uttarakhand |
| Drishti Eye Institute | Eye hospital | 24 November 2021 | Exchange of research information and publications, joint research programmes and conferences | UPES researchers and students |
| Merck Life Science | Industry | 13 December 2021 | Scientific skill development for students, including training at the Merck High Skill Development Centre, Chandigarh | UPES students |
| Wockhardt | Industry | — | Links students and faculty with pharmaceutical practice | UPES students and faculty |
| Vaidya Chandra Prakash Cancer Research Foundation, Rudrapur | Cancer research foundation | February 2025 | Co-organised the two-day symposium on Ayurveda for Optimal Immunity at UPES (21–22 February 2025) | Students and researchers at the symposium |
| DBT-BIRAC and other government agencies | Government funding | 2024–25 | More than ₹14 crore in grants to the Runway incubator, supporting start-ups in sectors including health care; BIRAC also backs the SWACHH public health incubator | Start-ups and young innovators, including in health care |
| SAS Institute India | Industry | May 2025 | Five-day faculty programme in healthcare analytics and life sciences | 32 faculty members |
| Taipei Medical University, Taiwan | International university | — | Student and scholar exchange, joint research in pharmaceutical and health sciences | UPES students and scholars |
| Leipzig University, Germany | International university | — | One Health challenges in the Himalaya | UPES researchers |
| University of Malaya, Malaysia | International university | March 2024 | Visiting fellowship for a UPES health sciences student (1–11 March 2024); expert session on quantum computing in precision medicine (April 2025) | A UPES student visiting fellow; SoHST students |
| Medical University of the Americas | International university | July 2025 | 5-year accelerated MD pathway for UPES students | UPES students who want to become doctors |
The MoU was signed in December 2021 by Dr Veena Agarwal, Registrar of UPES, and Dr Vartika Saxena, Dean of Research at AIIMS Rishikesh. It covers six areas: exchange of students, exchange of visiting scholars, joint research projects, exchange of academic information and materials, joint conferences and internship programmes. The two institutes have been preparing joint research proposals for funding.
Taipei Medical University is ranked 101–150 in the world for Pharmacy and Pharmacology by QS. It leads research in translational cancer medicine, neuroscience, pulmonary medicine, AI in medicine, cell therapy and immunotherapy, and medical device development, areas that overlap with UPES research on cancer, AI diagnostics and medical devices.
Through its Human Resources department and student welfare office, UPES works with insurers and health-care providers so that every employee and student is covered for medical costs and can reach a doctor or counsellor quickly. Together, these arrangements cover more than 20,000 students and employees.
| Partner | What it provides | Beneficiaries | Impact | Arranged by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group medical insurance | Medical insurance for employees, explained at HR induction | 1,700+ faculty and staff; 500+ new employees briefed in 2024 and 2025 | Employees are protected against medical costs from their first day | Human Resources |
| We Care Wellness and Health Insurance Plan | ₹1,00,000 medical cover per student, including road accidents, with hospital referral | 18,500+ registered students | No student is left without cover for hospital care, physical or mental | Student welfare |
| Max Healthcare | Complimentary health screenings | 1,700+ faculty and staff eligible | Health problems are picked up early, at no cost to staff | Human Resources |
| Practo (Sanjeevani) | Free online consultations with doctors, psychologists and therapists | 18,500+ students and 1,700+ staff | Medical and psychological advice without travel, waiting or fees | Student welfare and Human Resources |
| True Wellness (Main Hoon Na) | 24-hour confidential counselling through an app | 1,700+ employees and their immediate families | Families as well as staff can get help at any hour, in confidence | Human Resources |
| We Care helpline | Round-the-clock counselling and support helpline | 20,200+ students, faculty and staff | Someone to talk to at any time of day or night | Student welfare and Human Resources |
Beneficiary figures show who is eligible, based on 18,500+ students and 1,700+ faculty and staff in 2024–25 (UPES Annual Report 2024–25[47]); usage data are held by HR and student welfare.
Sources: UPES Health Facilities Report (PDF): medical insurance for staff[22]; UPES Student Support (medical insurance)[30]; UPES mental health support services (PDF)[33]
Beyond formal agreements, UPES brought health and mental health experts from partner institutions in India and abroad to teach its students.
| Institution | Engagement | Date | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, San Diego, USA | Session on improving mental health through implementation science, Dr David H. Sommerfeld | 21 January 2025 | 48 |
| Curtin University, Dubai | Three sessions on psychoneuroimmunology, academic well-being and positive workplaces, Dr Anitha Menon | 16–20 January 2025 | 80 |
| Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun | Talk on futuristic psychiatry, Dr Priya Ranjan Avinash, Head of Psychiatry | 7 April 2025 | 40 |
| IIT Gandhinagar | Research talk on the science of emotion and mental health, Dr Meera Mary Sunny | 3 October 2024 | 30 |
The B.Pharm. programme is approved by the Pharmacy Council of India for 2025–26.
Source: UPES Annual Report 2024–25[47]
UPES students and staff run health programmes in the communities around our Dehradun campuses, including free medical camps and menstrual health awareness drives.
Students and staff take health care to people who find it hardest to reach, measured in blood units collected, women reached and children taught.
The UPES Department of Social Outreach leads this work with NGOs, hospitals and local health workers.
| Activity | Organised by | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Poshan Maah (nutrition month) workshop | School of Health Sciences and Technology | 12–13 September 2024 |
| Pharmacovigilance Week, on reporting adverse drug reactions | School of Health Sciences and Technology | 17–25 September 2024 |
| World Pharmacist Day and National Nutrition Month | School of Health Sciences and Technology | 25 September 2024 |
| 63rd National Pharmacy Week | School of Health Sciences and Technology | 12–13 November 2024 |
| Awareness camp in schools for adolescents | School of Law, Legal Aid Clinic | 5–11 November 2024 |
| Workshop on crucial aspects of pre-natal and post-natal care | School of Law, Legal Aid Clinic | 31 January 2025 |
| "Chai Pe Charcha" community session on pre-natal and post-natal care | School of Law, Legal Aid Clinic | 1 February 2025 |
Source: UPES Annual Report 2024–25[47]
UPES opens its sports grounds to people beyond the university. Government departments, other universities, cricketers with disabilities and neighbouring schools play on our floodlit cricket ground and courts, free of charge, often for causes that reach well past the boundary rope. Facilities are shared as and when they are needed, on request and as per a fixed schedule that fits around the university's own sports calendar.
For more than a decade, UPES grounds have turned sport into support: for soldiers' families, for players with disabilities, and for neighbouring institutions that lack facilities of their own.
Want to use a UPES ground or court? Community groups, schools and institutions can request one free of charge. See how to request a facility.
The clearest sign that our facilities are shared is who turns up to play on them. Two tournaments run by UPES bring outside teams onto the Bidholi cricket ground.
Held every year since 2014 on the Bidholi cricket ground, under Project Naman
Each year UPES hands its floodlit cricket ground to teams from government departments and public sector undertakings for a T20 tournament held in memory of a soldier from Uttarakhand who died in service. The tournament runs on a no-profit basis: UPES and its employees fund most of it, the visiting teams donate voluntarily, and the money goes to the soldier's family.
The 11th edition honoured paratrooper Amit Kumar Anthwal of 4 PARA (Special Forces), from Kola village in Pauri district, who died during an operation in the Kupwara sector of Jammu and Kashmir in April 2020. Alongside the ₹5 lakh, UPES offered a job to one family member and pledged free education for his children.
Teams on our ground for the 11th edition
UPES Blue beat Irrigation Haridwar by 21 runs in the final.
Organised by the Department of Social Outreach on the Bidholi campus ground
The Champions League gave cricketers with disabilities a full-size, professionally kept ground to compete on, with UPES providing the venue and running the tournament.
Teams on our ground
At the award ceremony, Dr Sharad Mehra, Chairman of the Hydrocarbons Education and Research Society (HERS), honoured the players and announced job opportunities for them, matched to their abilities and qualifications.
Each team won one match, and Mountain Strikers took the series in a Super Over.
Other visitors use the same facilities:
UPES gives its sports facilities to outside groups as and when they are required. A group asks the sports office, and the facility is allotted free of charge on a schedule that fits around the university's own training, intramural fixtures and tournaments.
| Facility | Shared with | When it is given |
|---|---|---|
| Floodlit cricket ground, Bidholi | Government departments and PSUs, cricketers with disabilities, other universities, schools | Every year for the Shaheed Memorial Cricket Tournament (15 December 2024 to 10 January 2025 in the 2024–25 calendar); for other matches, on request and as per schedule |
| Indoor badminton courts | Teams from other universities | For inter-university competitions hosted by UPES (March 2025); on request and as per schedule |
| Football ground, basketball, volleyball and table tennis | Visiting teams and community groups | On request, as per schedule, around the university sports calendar |
Open to the community
Email upes.sports@ddn.upes.ac.in with your group's name, the facility you need and your preferred dates.
Your request is matched against the university's training sessions, intramural fixtures and tournaments.
The office confirms the date and time, and your group uses the facility as scheduled.
The facilities come alive during Spandan, the annual sports fest. Spandan 3.0, which began on 16 November, brought students, faculty and non-academic staff together to compete.
The Department of Sports, led by a Director of Sports with a sports officer and coaches, manages the facilities. Contact: upes.sports@ddn.upes.ac.in.
On the calendar every year. The Shaheed Memorial Cricket Tournament is a fixed part of the university's student-welfare calendar: in the 2024–25 academic year it ran until 10 January 2025, alongside an inter-athletics meet and intramural tournaments (DSW activity calendar).
Students at UPES get free, confidential sexual and reproductive health care, along with information and education.
Every student has free, confidential, round-the-clock access to sexual and reproductive health care, backed by insurance for anything the campus cannot treat.
| What students need | What UPES provides | Cost to students |
|---|---|---|
| A confidential consultation | A female medical officer at the medical centre on each campus | Free |
| Medicines | Dispensed at the campus medical centres | Free |
| Specialist or hospital care | Referral to nearby hospitals | Covered by medical insurance up to ₹1,00,000 per student |
| Menstrual products | Sanitary napkin vending machines in girls' hostels and washrooms | Available on campus |
| Information and education | Gynaecological health lectures and annual sessions on menstrual health and contraception | Free |
| Emergency care | 24×7 medical services and two BLS ambulances | On campus |
The same approach reaches beyond campus: Project Lakhon Khawahishen and reproductive health sessions for girls in Than village are described in section 3.
Every UPES student can get free, confidential mental health support, any time of day.
Help is always free and always open, and prevention starts long before a crisis, through peer support, expert talks and weekly meditation.
To book a confidential counselling session, students can contact Dr Veena Krishnan, counselling contact, at vkrishnan@ddn.upes.ac.in.
UPES runs wellness programmes, workshops on resilience, time management and exam stress, support groups, and yoga and meditation sessions. The clinical psychologist leads psycho-educational programmes on common mental and emotional health issues throughout the year, and Manoshakti, the student mental health club, keeps the conversation going among peers. Life skills are taught through the School for Life curriculum. In 2025 the Research and Development leadership also led a trekking expedition for PhD scholars focused on fitness, mindfulness and mental clarity.
Alongside counselling, UPES works to keep students well before they need help.
11–13 March 2024, Vivekananda Auditorium, Bidholi, organised by the School of Health Sciences and Technology
Following the University Grants Commission's call for meditation and mental health awareness in universities, the School of Health Sciences and Technology held a three-day workshop with trainers from Heartfulness: Mr Deen Dayal Joshi, Zonal Coordinator, Col Harshvardhan Pandey, Col Dr Manu Chopra and Mr Pramod Kumar. About 150 students, faculty and staff registered, including the Dean of the school and its cluster heads.
Col Chopra opened with the spiritual dimension of health in the World Health Organization's definition, and Col Harshvardhan led guided relaxation and meditation. Participants explored mindfulness, stress management, emotional intelligence and the mind-body connection, and learned how to manage stress and emotions through heart-centred living. The team also recorded pulse rate, oxygen saturation and blood pressure before and after meditation, as first data on how the practice affects well-being.
Source: SoHST event report, Heartfulness Meditation Workshop, 11–13 March 2024
Every Wednesday since September 2024, 12 noon to 1 pm, Library Conference Room (first floor), organised by the School of Health Sciences and Technology
The workshop grew into a regular practice. Since September 2024, a guided Heartfulness meditation session has been held every Wednesday, open to students, faculty and staff. It aims to improve mental, emotional and physical well-being, to encourage research-backed ways of managing stress, focus and emotional balance, and to build a supportive, mindful campus.
The programme also trains faculty to bring mindfulness into teaching and mentoring, and has a public health research strand that studies the effect of meditation on psychological well-being, stress and quality of life.
From January to 16 October 2026 alone, 40 sessions were held, with an average of five to six faculty members at each, adding up to about 200 participations.
Of the first 27 people who registered, 25 were beginners. Relaxation (19), stress reduction (17), better concentration (14) and emotional wellness (13) were the most common reasons for joining.
Source: SoHST, weekly Heartfulness meditation sessions, figures to 16 October 2026
10 September 2024 (Bidholi) and 24 September 2024 (Kandoli), hosted by Manoshakti
ManoMandal, subtitled "Kuch Baatein, Kuch Kahaniyan", gives students a relaxed space to talk honestly about their experiences, challenges and successes at university. Under the theme "Heartfelt Connections: Open Conversations for All", seniors shared the challenges they had overcome and offered advice to freshers, with student counsellor Dr Veena Krishnan joining both sessions. Participants wore orange as a symbol of warmth, and an icebreaker game set an easy tone so that everyone felt able to speak.
Source: Manoshakti event reports, ManoMandal Bidholi and ManoMandal Kandoli
7–8 October 2024, School of Liberal Studies and Media, both campuses
A two-day event that took the conversation about mental health across the Bidholi and Kandoli campuses. Large group sessions in the campus atrium were paired with small peer discussion circles, so students could talk about mental health with each other and not only listen to speakers.
10 October 2024, hosted by Manoshakti, the student emotional well-being club
To mark World Mental Health Day, Manoshakti invited UPES counsellor Dr Veena Krishnan to lead a workshop on the year's theme, "It's time to prioritise mental health in the workplace". Students heard practical guidance from the same counsellor they can book a free, confidential session with.
15 October 2024, MBA CORE batch 4, online
MBA students joined an online session with Anne Moss Rogers, a mental health speaker and trainer. The session covered suicide prevention and why looking after mental well-being matters, especially during a demanding programme.
20 February 2025, hosted by Manoshakti with Dr Veena Krishnan
Ahead of exams, Dr Veena Krishnan ran a workshop on "brain fog": what causes it, how it affects concentration and how to clear it. She linked constant doom-scrolling to difficulty processing emotions, and gave students practical habits to use straight away: half an hour a day away from devices, a regular sleep routine that respects the body's circadian rhythm, and Tratak, a yogic focusing exercise. Short aptitude and reflection activities helped students check their own mental state, and the session closed with open questions.
Source: Manoshakti event report, Impact Hours, 20 February 2025
Community Mental Health Training Program
SAARTHI trains students to be the first person a friend can turn to. Through hands-on practice in small groups, participants learn active listening and emotional first response, moving from awareness to action. The skills go beyond campus, so trained students can also support people in their communities.
Psychology students, with international partners
UPES psychology students do not only study mental health, they research it. Working with UC San Diego, UCLA and Miami University, they study depression, suicide prevention and campus safety.
Buzz social spaces, Bidholi and Kandoli
Well-being also depends on having somewhere to switch off. Both campuses have a Buzz social space, with lounge seating and table tennis, where students can relax and meet friends between classes.
Five expert talks brought leading psychologists and psychiatrists to students, with 183 attendances in all.
| Talk | Speaker | Date | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Freeze, Feel, Predict: The Science of Emotion and Its Role in Mental Health" | Dr Meera Mary Sunny, IIT Gandhinagar | 3 October 2024 | 30 |
| "Psychoneuroimmunology: How the Body and Mind Talk to Each Other" | Dr Anitha Menon, Curtin University, Dubai | 16 January 2025 | 50 |
| "Thank God It Is Monday: A Perspective on Positive Workplaces" | Dr Anitha Menon, Curtin University, Dubai | 20 January 2025 | 15 |
| "Improving Mental Health Through Implementation Science" | Dr David H. Sommerfeld, University of California, San Diego | 21 January 2025 | 48 |
| "Digital Footprint: Futuristic Psychiatry" | Dr Priya Ranjan Avinash, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun | 7 April 2025 | 40 |
The School of Liberal Studies and Media also ran Mental Health Awareness Programmes at Kandoli (7 October 2024) and Bidholi (8 October 2024), and its film club screened Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2024. Students can also call the 24-hour toll-free anti-ragging helpline, 1800-180-5522.
Source: UPES Annual Report 2024–25[47]
UPES is a 100% smoke-free campus. Smoking and tobacco use are not allowed anywhere on campus or within 100 metres outside it.
Every student, employee and visitor breathes smoke-free air on campus, and anyone who wants to quit has free help.
The ban covers academic buildings, hostels, sports areas, dining spaces and open grounds. UPES runs regular awareness activities on the harm caused by tobacco, and signs across campus remind students, staff and visitors of the rules, including the legal ban on selling tobacco near the university.
The staff Code of Conduct also bans smoking, alcohol and non-prescribed drugs on all UPES premises, vehicles and duty locations, and the same rule applies to students and visitors.
The campus rules follow Indian tobacco-control law and the Government of India's guidelines for tobacco-free educational institutions.
| Law or guideline | What it requires | How it shows on campus |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA), section 4 | No smoking in public places, including educational institutions | No smoking anywhere on campus, indoors or outdoors |
| COTPA, section 6 | No sale of tobacco within 100 yards of an educational institution | Warning boards at the campus boundary; UPES applies a 100-metre buffer |
| Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) guidelines and implementation manual[40] | Tobacco-free signage, a marked 100-yard zone, regular awareness activities and a no-tobacco rule in the code of conduct | Signage, the buffer zone, awareness events and the staff and student codes of conduct |
Want to quit? Students can get free, confidential support from the student counselling service, and staff through the 24×7 Main Hoon Na helpline. The national tobacco quit line is free on 1800-112-356.
UPES faculty, staff and their families get free, confidential mental health support around the clock.
Staff and their families have round-the-clock support, and an externally recognised workplace culture that keeps people well.
Since September 2024, faculty and staff have joined a weekly Heartfulness meditation session every Wednesday from 12 noon to 1 pm in the Library Conference Room, alongside students. From January to 16 October 2026, 40 sessions were held, with five to six faculty members at each on average, about 200 participations in all. The programme helps staff manage stress and stay focused, prepares faculty to bring mindfulness into teaching and mentoring, and supports joint research across schools on how meditation affects well-being. About 150 students, faculty and staff registered for the three-day Heartfulness workshop that started it in March 2024.
UPES's care for its people is recognised externally. In 2025, Great Place to Work ranked UPES 4th among India's Great Mid-size Workplaces and named it one of India's Best Workplaces Building a Culture of Innovation by All. It was certified a Great Place to Work for February 2024 to February 2025 and ranked 10th among the Best Workplaces in Asia 2024 in the large organisations category.
Source: UPES Annual Report 2024–25[47]
| Service | What it offers | Who can use it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Hoon Na (Employee Assistance Programme) | Confidential counselling through the True Wellness app | Employees and immediate family | 24×7 |
| We Care helpline | Counselling and support helpline | Employees | 24×7 |
| Sanjeevani | Free online doctor consultations through Practo | Employees | Any time |
| Health screenings | Complimentary check-ups with Max Healthcare | Employees | — |
| HR induction | Briefing on the assistance programme, wellness and insurance | Every new employee | On joining |
| Challengers Cup and wellness challenges | Sport and fitness for work-life balance | All faculty and staff | Annually, and through the year |
Between June 2024 and June 2025, 12 events and programmes run by UPES schools, clubs and the NSS turned this goal into action on campus and in the community.
SoHST ran a five-day Faculty Development Programme on "Healthcare Analytics and Life Sciences with SAS" in collaboration with SAS Institute India, open to faculty from across disciplines.
Impact
Faculty from many disciplines are now better equipped to bring healthcare data analytics into their teaching and research.
Supports 1. Health research
Students of the School of Health Sciences and Technology learned from Dr Vannajan Sanghiran Lee of the University of Malaya, Malaysia, how quantum computing is opening new routes to precision medicine.
Impact
Students gained direct access to international expertise at the frontier of personalised treatment, linking their studies to where health care is heading.
The School of Business hosted Alex H. of Nottingham Business School for a "Leading Self" session on emotional intelligence, resilience and a growth mindset.
Impact
Attendees left with practical strategies for managing pressure and setbacks that they can use in both personal and professional life.
Supports 6. Student mental health
Organised jointly by UPES and the Vaidya Chandra Prakash Cancer Research Foundation, Rudrapur, this two-day symposium on "Ayurveda for Optimal Immunity" examined how Ayurveda can strengthen immunity and well-being, and where modern research supports traditional practice.
Impact
Students saw preventive health through two lenses, traditional knowledge and scientific research, encouraging a research-backed approach to wellness.
Supports 1. Health research
Timed for exam season, Manoshakti and student counsellor Dr Veena Krishnan explained what causes brain fog, how doom-scrolling disrupts emotional processing and how to restore focus. Aptitude and reflection activities let students check their own mental state.
Impact
Students left with habits they could start the same day: 30 minutes a day away from devices, a regular sleep routine, Tratak focus practice and daily time to process emotions.
Supports 6. Student mental health
NSS UPES held a Vivechna session at the Old Amphitheatre, Bidholi, where guest speakers Charanpal Singh and Ghazala Shaheen covered the types and severity of cancer, early detection and prevention through healthy living.
Impact
Faculty, volunteers and students wrote messages of support on a Cancer Fight Wall, and many participants said they wanted to take part in future cancer awareness work.
Supports 3. Community outreach
MBA CORE batch 4 joined an online session with Anne Moss Rogers, a mental health speaker and trainer, on suicide prevention and why mental well-being matters during a demanding programme.
Impact
Students on one of the most demanding programmes heard directly from a specialist in suicide prevention, making it easier to talk about mental health and to seek help early.
Supports 6. Student mental health
On World Mental Health Day, Manoshakti hosted a workshop led by student counsellor Dr Veena Krishnan on the year's theme, "It's time to prioritise mental health in the workplace".
Impact
This session launched the Impact Hours series, which continued through the year, and put students in touch with the counsellor they can book for free, confidential support.
Supports 6. Student mental health
The School of Liberal Studies and Media ran a two-day Mental Health Day across UPES campuses, combining large group sessions with small peer discussion circles.
Impact
Mental health moved out of the counselling room and into everyday campus spaces, helping students talk openly with each other.
Supports 6. Student mental health
The second ManoMandal session brought seniors and freshers together at Kandoli for honest conversations about their experiences, challenges and successes, with student counsellor Dr Veena Krishnan.
Impact
Repeating the format at Kandoli meant students on both campuses had the same safe space to share and the same access to peer support.
Supports 6. Student mental health
The first ManoMandal session, at the Old Amphitheatre in Bidholi, used the theme "Heartfelt Connections: Open Conversations for All". Seniors shared the challenges they had overcome, and Dr Veena Krishnan spoke on mentorship and balancing study with well-being.
Impact
Four student clubs, including AKS, Hypervision, Ozone and Infinity Space, joined Manoshakti, showing that well-being is a shared responsibility across campus life.
Supports 6. Student mental health
Following the March 2024 Heartfulness workshop, SoHST began a guided meditation session every Wednesday, 12 noon to 1 pm, in the Library Conference Room, open to students, faculty and staff.
Impact
A steady weekly habit: five to six faculty members join an average session, using meditation to manage stress and improve focus.
Goal 3 is made up of 13 targets agreed by the United Nations for 2030. UPES's teaching, research, campus operations and community work contribute to all 13.
UPES activity touches every one of the 13 targets under Goal 3, with the deepest and most measurable impact on five of them.
Targets where UPES runs sustained programmes, policies or research with measurable results.
UN target 3.4Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health and well-being.
UN target 3.7Universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including family planning, information and education.
UN target 3.8Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services and medicines.
UN target 3.aStrengthen implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
UN target 3.bSupport research and development of vaccines and medicines, and provide access to affordable essential medicines.
Targets our work supports through specific projects, partnerships or research.
UN target 3.1Reduce the global maternal mortality ratio.
UN target 3.2End preventable deaths of newborns and children under five.
UN target 3.3End epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases; combat hepatitis and water-borne diseases.
UN target 3.5Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
UN target 3.6Halve global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.
UN target 3.9Reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution.
UN target 3.cIncrease health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce.
UN target 3.dStrengthen capacity for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
UN target wording is summarised. The full official text is on the United Nations SDG 3 page ↗[52].
The full list of UPES health research publications indexed in Scopus, with a link to each paper. It includes every year, so the totals are higher than the headline figures in section 1.