Central University of Punjab

The Central University of Punjab (CUPB) was established in 2009 through an Act of Parliament, known as the Central Universities Act, 2009. It is located in Bathinda, Punjab, and has achieved NAAC accreditation with an 'A+' grade in its second cycle in 2023. The university has steadily improved its ranking in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), securing the 83rd position in the university category in 2024.

CUPB offers a wide range of courses at postgraduate and doctoral levels, as well as bachelor's degrees introduced in 2024. The postgraduate and doctoral programmes include disciplines such as sciences, technology, humanities, social sciences, law, and education. The available master's programs cover subjects like M.Sc. in Life Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Science, M.A. in English, Political Science, and History, along with M.Tech., M.Pharm., and LL.M. programs. The bachelor's degrees include B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering, B.A.-LL.B., B.Pharmacy, and integrated B.A.-B.Ed. and B.Sc.-B.Ed. courses.

The university has 31 departments and 11 schools across these fields of study and follows the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) to promote research, skill development, and entrepreneurship. The campus, located in Ghudda village, spans 500 acres and has been provisionally certified with a five-star rating by GRIHA for its environment-friendly and energy-efficient infrastructure.

CUPB also focuses on social responsibility and encourages students to participate in sports, cultural activities, and community engagement. Research is a key focus, with the university recognised for its high per capita research funding and strong faculty-to-publication and faculty-to-project ratios. CUPB strives to create a skilled workforce that is responsive to the needs of academia, industry, and society.

The Central University of Punjab was established in 2009 through the Central Universities Act, 2009 (Act No. 25 of 2009), passed by the Parliament of India. The Act received the President’s assent on 20 March 2009, and the university’s jurisdiction was extended across the entire state of Punjab. It formally began functioning from a Camp Office in March 2009. In November 2009, it relocated to a City Campus in Bathinda spread over 35 acres, which was initially a rented, unused co-operative spinning mill premises on Mansa Road.

In its formative stage, the university commenced with only three rooms, made available by the state administration. A modest beginning was made with the launch of four postgraduate programmes with just ten students in August 2009. Over the years, the university expanded its academic and infrastructural capacity. It currently operates from a 500-acre environment-friendly and energy-efficient permanent campus in Ghudda village, Bathinda district. The campus has received provisional five-star certification for its master plan from the GRIHA Council and TERI, in recognition of its sustainable development model.

The university was initially research-centric and offered postgraduate and doctoral programmes across multiple disciplines. Over time, the university expanded its academic offerings. As of July 2024, it introduced undergraduate programmes including B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering, B.A.-LL.B., B.Pharmacy, B.A.-B.Ed., and B.Sc.-B.Ed., thereby diversifying its academic structure.

The university has established 11 schools and 31 departments covering fields such as Sciences, Technology, Education, Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, and Engineering. These include the School of Basic Sciences, School of Education, School of Engineering and Technology, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, School of Health Sciences, School of Information and Communication Studies, School of International Studies, School of Languages, Literature and Culture, School of Legal Studies, School of Management, and School of Social Sciences.

In terms of curriculum development, the university implemented the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) in 2015, introduced a learning outcome-based curriculum in 2018, and adopted a graduate attributes-based curriculum from the academic session 2021. The emphasis has been placed on research, skill development, and entrepreneurship.

By 2024, the university had enrolled 1,595 postgraduate, 366 doctoral, and 21 international students. The university has maintained a consistent academic and research trajectory, and it has been recognised as having the highest per capita research funding among its peer group. Faculty recruitment has focused on candidates trained at prestigious Indian and international institutions.

In research, the Central University of Punjab has shown significant activity, often leading newly established Central Universities in terms of project count and research publications. The faculty-to-project and faculty-to-publication ratios remain favourable indicators of its research productivity. Since 2015, the university has operated an "Earn-While-You-Learn" scheme to support financially weak students.

Accredited with an ‘A+’ Grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) during its second accreditation cycle in 2023, the university has also consistently figured in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). It was ranked 83rd among all universities in India in 2024, and 23rd in the pharmacy category. The university previously achieved NIRF ranks of 95th (2019), 87th (2020), 84th (2021), 81st (2022), and 100th (2023).

The Central University of Punjab has also earned distinction from ResearchGate and Scopus as the top-ranking newly established central university since 2012. Despite being located in a rural region, the university has drawn a diverse academic community. It comprises students from 26 Indian states, faculty from 19 states, and non-teaching staff from 12 states, forming a multi-cultural academic environment.

The university has integrated e-governance through the Samarth Project. Staff members have been trained in 21 administrative modules to enhance governance efficiency, ensure transparency, and adopt a participatory decision-making model.

In addition to academic growth, the university promotes active student involvement in national and international commemorative days, cultural and sports events, and social outreach activities. It supports indigenous sports, conducts food festivals, and organises waste-to-resource events. As part of its environmental commitment, the university campus is plastic-free and regularly engages in environmental awareness drives in neighbouring villages.

The current Chancellor is Dr. Jagbir Singh, and the Vice-Chancellor is Dr. Raghavendra P. Tiwari. The university operates under the aegis of the President of India, who acts as its Visitor. It is affiliated with several national and international academic and regulatory bodies including the University Grants Commission (UGC), Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), Bar Council of India (BCI), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The Central University of Punjab (CUPB) offers a wide range of postgraduate, doctoral, and bachelor’s degree programmes across various disciplines. These courses are designed to provide students with a strong academic foundation, research opportunities, and skills needed for their professional careers.

Postgraduate Programmes
CUPB offers several Master of Science (M.Sc.) programmes in the sciences, focusing on specialised areas such as Life Sciences (with specialisations in Animal Sciences, Biochemistry, Microbial Sciences, Bioinformatics, Human Genetics, and Plant Sciences), Chemical Sciences (with specialisations in Organic, Inorganic, Physical, and Computational Chemistry), Physics (with a focus on Computational Physics), Mathematics, Statistics, and Environmental Science and Technology.

In the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the university offers M.Pharm. programmes with a specialisation in Medicinal Chemistry. These programmes are designed to equip students with advanced knowledge and skills in their respective fields, preparing them for research and industry roles.

For those interested in humanities and social sciences, CUPB offers Master of Arts (M.A.) programmes in English (Comparative Literature and Translation), Punjabi, History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, and Geography. The university also provides M.Ed. and LL.M. programmes, with LL.M. specialisations in Environmental Law, Human Rights Law, and Corporate Law.

Bachelor’s Degree Programmes
In 2024, CUPB introduced bachelor’s programmes to its academic offerings. These include B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), which focuses on equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed in the technology sector. The B.A.-LL.B. programme offers a comprehensive five-year course that combines the study of arts and law, preparing students for careers in legal practice.

The B.Pharmacy programme is designed to teach students the science and practice of pharmacy, preparing them for roles in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. CUPB also offers integrated courses such as B.A.-B.Ed. and B.Sc.-B.Ed., which are aimed at students who wish to pursue careers in education. These integrated programmes combine undergraduate study with teacher training, allowing students to obtain both a bachelor’s degree and a teaching qualification in a streamlined manner.

Doctoral Programmes
CUPB is well-known for its Ph.D. programmes across various disciplines. The university offers Ph.D. courses in Plant Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Biochemistry and Microbial Sciences, Computational Sciences, Environmental Science and Technology, and Human Genetics, among others. These programmes focus heavily on research and are ideal for students interested in pursuing careers in academia or specialised research roles in industry.

Research and Skills Development
The university follows the Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS), which allows students the flexibility to choose courses based on their interests and career goals. CUPB's curriculum is outcome-based and places a strong emphasis on research, skill development, and entrepreneurship. The university encourages interdisciplinary learning and promotes an environment where students can explore different fields of study and apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.

The Central University of Punjab has achieved notable rankings in India and globally. In the NIRF 2023, it was ranked 100th overall and 19th in the 'Pharmacy' category in India, reflecting its presence in the national higher education landscape.

Internationally, the university has been recognised by ResearchGate and Scopus, consistently ranked number one among newly established central universities in India since 2012. This distinction highlights its strong research output and academic contributions.

In terms of accreditation, the university received an ‘A+’ grade from the NAAC in 2023, signifying its commitment to academic and administrative quality.

Additionally, the QS Sustainability Ranking 2024 placed the university in the 1201+ category globally, acknowledging its efforts in sustainability and environmental responsibility.

The job integration rate at the Central University of Punjab (CUPB) varies across different programmes. In BTech (CSE), around 30–35% of students were placed with an average package of INR 3–5 LPA. For MTech (CSE), 70–90% of students secured placements, with the average package at INR 8 LPA, the highest being INR 24 LPA. During PG 2-year placements in 2023, the median package was INR 4 LPA, and for LLM, it was INR 6 LPA. The Pharmacy department saw a median package of INR 3.47 LPA. 

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