The year 2025 proved to be a momentous and turbulent period for the 143-year-old Panjab University (PU), marked by a historic student election, significant governance controversies, and notable achievements in global rankings.
A Historic Political Victory on Campus
September 2025 witnessed a landmark shift in the university's student politics. Gaurav Veer Sohal, a research scholar from the Department of Laws, created history by being elected as the President of the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC). This victory was monumental for the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), as it was the first time in 48 years that the party secured the president's post. Sohal secured 3,148 votes, defeating his closest competitor, Sumit Sharma, by a margin of 488 votes.
Sohal, an active ABVP member for four years, emphasized a ground-level connect with students. Upon election, he committed to being available 24x7 for student welfare, pledging to address their demands and escalate them to the administration for resolution.
Controversy and Protest Over Governance
The campus atmosphere grew tense following a October 28 notification from the Centre. This notification aimed at restructuring the University's Senate and Syndicate, converting the elected Syndicate into a fully nominated body and reducing the Senate's strength. The move was met with severe criticism and united opposition from students across political lines and various political parties.
Student organizations united under the 'Panjab University Bachao Morcha' to protest what they termed an 'undemocratic move'. The protests escalated into an indefinite sit-in outside the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, demanding the restoration of the 91-member Senate and a complete rollback of the notification issued under the Panjab University Act, 1947.
In a significant turn of events, the Union Ministry of Education withdrew its restructuring notification on November 7. Subsequently, on November 9, the university initiated the process for Senate elections under the previous mode, submitting the schedule for approval.
Parallelly, students also launched an indefinite protest on October 30 against a 'no-protest affidavit' mandated for hostel residents, calling it an attack on their right to dissent. After days of intense demonstrations, the university withdrew the controversial affidavit on November 4.
Accolades and Global Recognition
Amidst the turmoil, Panjab University continued to excel in academic and research spheres. The institution crossed a milestone of 31,000 high-impact research publications, with approximately 2,400 papers published in 2025 alone. Its overall H-index stood at an impressive 272. The University Grants Commission recognized its excellence by conferring the prestigious Category-I status.
The university's global standing was reaffirmed across multiple ranking frameworks:
- QS World University Rankings 2026: Ranked 276th in Asia and in the 901–950 band globally.
- QS Sustainability Rankings 2026: Secured the 569th position.
- Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026: Placed in the 601–800 band.
- THE Asia University Rankings 2025: Ranked in the 201–250 band.
- THE Interdisciplinary Rankings 2026: Achieved the 174th spot.
- NIRF Rankings 2025: Ranked 35th in the university category and 3rd among state public universities.
- Centre for World University Rankings 2025: Placed among the top 3.9% globally, ranking 12th in India and 837th worldwide.
- U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings 2025–26: Ranked 13th in India and 775th globally.
Furthermore, 51 faculty members and researchers from PU were featured in the Stanford–Elsevier Global Top 2% Scientists List 2025. The university's innovation drive was evident with over 200 patents granted and published cumulatively. In 2025 specifically, 7 patents were published, 10 were granted, and 4 were filed. The University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) also shone, ranking third among pharmacy institutions in India.
Thus, 2025 encapsulated a year of democratic assertion, administrative challenges, and sustained academic brilliance for Panjab University, defining its resilience and legacy.
