In a significant move to modernize campus operations and tighten security, Panjab University (PU) in Chandigarh has officially launched Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based smart identity cards for its entire workforce. The rollout, which took place on Thursday, marks a pivotal step in the university's digital transformation journey.
Boosting Security with Advanced Technology
The new smart cards are designed for all university employees, including teaching staff, non-teaching personnel, daily wage workers, and even retirees. The primary objective is to ensure authorized access to the PU campus by authenticating legitimate employees and effectively preventing any unauthorized entry. This initiative is a core part of the institution's broader agenda to modernize its infrastructure and strengthen safety protocols.
PU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Renu Vig, personally emphasized the importance of this security upgrade. She also highlighted the future vision, stressing the need to extend the RFID-based smart card system to the student community. The plan is to begin with pilot projects in university hostels before a full-scale implementation.
How the High-Security Smart Cards Work
The newly issued cards are not simple ID badges. They feature encrypted personal data and photographs that are encoded into an official QR code and an RFID tag using intelligent applications. A key security feature is that the encoded data is unalterable. Any attempt to create a counterfeit card will render the code completely unreadable by the system.
When scanned, the system displays only verified and correct information. The cards operate on advanced security algorithms and communicate with RFID readers through a secure three-pass authentication process before any data exchange occurs. This system securely links the RFID-tagged data with the university's comprehensive employee database through multiple identification layers and decoding modules.
Professor Sonal Chawla, Chairperson of the overseeing committee, provided further details on the integration plans. She stated that once all employee cards are issued, they will be mapped and integrated with boom barriers at university gates using RFID technology. This will allow for automated, secure entry and exit.
Future Expansion: A Single Card for All Services
The project has a clear roadmap for expansion beyond just access control. Professor Chawla revealed that the initiative will later be extended to students. The vision is to create a single digital interface by linking the RFID smart identity cards with various student services. This integration could include mess cards, library access, and other campus facilities, streamlining the student experience significantly.
In other related news from the university, the University Institute of Applied Management Sciences (UIAMS) has formally announced the admission schedule for its MBA (Sectoral) Programmes for the academic session 2026–27. Eligible candidates can apply online through the MET website at https://met.puchd.ac.in/. The last date for submission of online applications is March 28, 2026, and the MBA (Sectoral) Entrance Test (MET-2026) is scheduled for April 12, 2026.
Furthermore, Panjab University is hosting an international delegation. A group of 10 students and two faculty members from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, has arrived under the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Program. The delegation will undertake a six-week, credit-bearing programme involving internships and mentorships, fostering academic and practical engagement between the two institutions.
