Punjab University's New Administrative Framework

Political Opposition, Students’ Pulse, and Future Challenges

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The Government of India, through a single notification, has centralized all powers of Punjab University (PU), Chandigarh, under the Chancellor, who is also the Vice President of India. By dissolving the decades-old tradition of the Senate and Syndicate, a new nominated body has been established in their place, as per the recommendations outlined in the notification. This change has sparked widespread opposition, and based on available data, we can question whether this is a new form for an historic legacy or a new guise for political interference.

Punjab University (PU), Chandigarh, is not merely an educational institution but a symbol of Punjab’s spiritual and intellectual heritage. Established in 1882 in Lahore, it was reborn in Chandigarh post-partition in 1947 and remains one of India’s premier academic institutions.

According to the NIRF 2025 rankings, PU stands at 38th in the university category and 7th in pharmacy, having nurtured thousands of scholars, scientists, and politicians.