Srinagar, September 5: Saniya Amin, a Master’s student of the Faculty of Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), has secured a place among the Top 10 winners across India under the prestigious Esri India Master’s Scholarships in GIS Programme 2026.
In recognition of her achievement, Amin was awarded a one-time scholarship of ₹1 lakh at the Esri India User Conference 2026 held on September 3 at Hotel Pullman, Aerocity, New Delhi.
Saniya Amin is pursuing her Master’s degree under the supervision of Dr. Akhlaq Amin Wani, Professor and Head, Division of Natural Resource Management (NRM), Faculty of Forestry. As part of the national scholarship selection process, she presented her research work titled “Shallabugh Wetland Dynamics Using a GIS-Based Machine Learning Approach,” highlighting the application of advanced geospatial techniques to understand and assess changes in the wetland ecosystem. Her research earned her a place among the top 10 scholars selected from across the country.
The achievement is in line with the vision of Prof. N.A. Ganai, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, who has consistently encouraged students and faculty to pursue excellence and achieve significant milestones at national and international levels. He has emphasised the importance of research, innovation, skill development and participation in competitive platforms that provide students opportunities to showcase their talent and strengthen the University’s academic and research standing.
The Esri India Master’s Scholarships in GIS Programme supports final-year postgraduate students working in GIS, spatial modelling and remote sensing. In addition to the ₹1 lakh financial award, the scholarship provides a complimentary one-year ArcGIS Personal Use License and a direct interview opportunity with Esri India, offering valuable exposure to career opportunities in the geospatial technology sector.
Dean, Faculty of Forestry, Prof. A.H. Mughal, congratulated Ms. Saniya Amin and her supervisor, Dr. Akhlaq Amin Wani, on the achievement. He appreciated the efforts of the Faculty in encouraging students to participate in national-level academic and professional programmes and emphasised that such opportunities enable students to translate their research into wider academic and professional recognition.
The achievement highlights the growing importance of GIS, remote sensing and spatial modelling in natural resource management research and reflects the Faculty of Forestry’s efforts to equip postgraduate students with emerging technologies and skills relevant to contemporary environmental and natural resource challenges.
The other institutions represented among the Top 10 winners include the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (ISRO), IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, Symbiosis Institute of Geoinformatics, Azim Premji University, IIT Tirupati and IIT Ropar.
