Vice-President of India and Panjab University Chancellor CP Radhakrishnan has set a clear goal — he wants to make Panjab University a leading university of the world. He made this statement in his maiden speech on the university campus.
"I want to make Panjab University a leading university of the world, and I will extend every possible help for this," he said.
Panjab University Chancellor responds to MP's research university demand
The statement came as a direct reply to Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari, who had requested a specialised central university for research and robotics in the city. Instead of supporting a new institution, the Chancellor said the facilities would be provided within the PU campus itself.
"The university is already 80 per cent funded by the Central Government, and 20 per cent by the state government. Why another university, we will make this university a hub for research and modern technology," Radhakrishnan said.
He also appreciated the local MP for raising the matter. "I must appreciate the local MP (Tewari) for bringing forth the much-needed proposal," he added.
What this means for Panjab University students and research
The Chancellor's vision points to a single direction — strengthening the existing institution rather than splitting resources into a new university. His plan suggests that research and robotics facilities will be developed on the current campus, which could benefit students and faculty directly.
The funding structure he highlighted — 80 per cent from the Central Government and 20 per cent from the state — shows the university already has strong government backing. His argument is simple: if the money is already flowing into PU, the focus should be on upgrading it rather than starting fresh elsewhere.
Our Take: A practical vision for Panjab University's future
In our view, the Chancellor's approach makes practical sense. Building a new specialised university from scratch would take years and significant new investment. Upgrading an existing institution with established infrastructure, faculty, and government funding is often a faster and more efficient path.
That said, the real test lies in execution. Promising to make PU a leading world university is ambitious — the challenge will be in delivering the modern technology and research facilities that the MP asked for. Students and researchers will be watching closely to see if these words turn into concrete action on the ground.
For now, the message from the Chancellor is clear: Panjab University is the priority, and the resources will be directed there.