JNU to confer Professor Emeritus title on Amitabh Mattoo after February 2027 retirement

By TUF News Desk · Published 4 November 2026 · 3 min read

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Jawaharlal Nehru University will confer the title of Professor Emeritus on Amitabh Mattoo, dean of its School of International Studies, once he retires. The university’s Executive Council took the decision at a recent meeting, and the title will take effect after Mattoo’s voluntary retirement on February 28, 2027.

Mattoo’s name was recommended by Rajesh Rajagopalan, a professor at the School of International Studies. The council discussed the proposal at its meeting and agreed to confer the title from the date Mattoo steps down.

A career spent on international affairs

Mattoo is a professor at the Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament, which sits within the School of International Studies. His qualifications include a D.Phil from Oxford, along with an M.Phil and an MA from JNU itself. The university’s own profile lists 30 years of teaching and research experience, with work spanning national and international security, India’s foreign policy, international relations theory, peace and conflict studies, and arms control and disarmament.

Outside JNU, Mattoo received the Padma Shri in 2009. He served as vice-chancellor of the University of Jammu from 2002 to 2008, and was the youngest person appointed vice-chancellor of a public university in India at the time. He later served as adviser to the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2015 to 2018, with the status of a cabinet minister. He is also an honorary professor of international relations at the University of Melbourne.

Students who want to understand what a school like the School of International Studies offers can start with our guide to choosing a university in India, which sets out how to weigh faculty, programmes and campus life before applying.

The group he will join

Professor Emeritus is an honorary title that universities give to retired professors. It keeps the professor formally linked to the university after regular service ends, and it is reserved for academics with a long record of teaching and research.

At JNU, 16 professors currently hold the title. The names include historian Romilla Thapar, scientist Asis Datta, economist Prabhat Patnaik, H.S. Gill and political scientist Zoya Hassan. Mattoo will be added to that list once his retirement takes effect.

The decision was reported on November 4, 2026. Mattoo continues as dean of the School of International Studies until February 28, 2027, when his voluntary retirement takes effect and the emeritus title begins. His official JNU profile lists his qualifications, areas of interest and honours.

Frequently asked questions

When will Amitabh Mattoo receive the Professor Emeritus title from JNU?

The title will be conferred effective after his voluntary retirement on February 28, 2027, following the Executive Council’s decision.

Who recommended Amitabh Mattoo for the Professor Emeritus title?

Rajesh Rajagopalan, a professor at JNU’s School of International Studies, recommended Mattoo’s name, and the Executive Council approved it after deliberations.

What is Amitabh Mattoo known for academically?

Mattoo is dean of JNU’s School of International Studies and a professor of international politics. He received the Padma Shri in 2009 and earlier served as vice-chancellor of the University of Jammu.

How many professors currently hold the Professor Emeritus title at JNU?

Sixteen professors currently hold the title, including Romilla Thapar, Asis Datta, Prabhat Patnaik, H.S. Gill and Zoya Hassan.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: The Hindu, Chennai Online