The first-ever female vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has been selected for the Padma Shri award. Akhtar will receive the award from President Ram Nath Kovind on Republic Day in the literature and education category. Not just Jamia, but the first female vice-chancellor of a central university in Delhi. Akhtar was born in 1953.

She has over decades of experience as an academician. Before joining Jamia,  Akhtar was serving as the vice-chancellor of the University of Kashmir. Akhtar has also headed the Department of Educational Administration at the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) for 15 years.

She is best known for establishing the first state-level management institute at Allahabad and starting an international education administrator’s course for senior officials at NIEPA. She has also held positions at IGNOU. At the national open university, she worked on creating courses for educators teaching in distance mode.

On being selected for the award, Akhtar said, “I will accept this award not just for myself but on behalf of my colleagues. Now that we have the award in our institute, it has increased our responsibilities and will motivate us to work harder.” She added, “I appreciate all those who recognised me and my work and deemed me fit for the award. Especially our President who entrusted me as the first female vice-chancellor of the central university. I believe I have fulfiled the expectations.”