Punjab University, formerly the East Punjab Uiversity, was created by a special ordianance of 1st October, 1947. It is a continuum of the Punjab University, Lahore, which was incorporated in 1882. It is now governed by the Punjab University Act 1947. After the partition, its headquarters were shifted to Solan. Teaching department were started at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and Delhi. It moved to its present 360 acres campus at Chandigarh during 1956. To meet the need tp expand its activities over 130 acres of land was purchased in 1964. Another 103 acres have been identified and are being developed in a phased manner. To overall governance of the University is vested in a Senate which elects a Syndiactae, the Chief decision-making body.

The administration and academic work of the University is looked after by the Academic Council, a Board of Studies and a Board of Control. TheVice-Chancellor is the Chief Executive assisted by 5 Deans, the Registrar and the Controller of Examinations. The University has 49 teaching departments covering the Humanities, Science and Professional courses and Languages. This is the only University in the country where three of its Departments have been recognised as Advanced Centres by the UNiversity Grants Commission and even Departments have been elected for special assistance programmes. The University has established several Centres like Regional sophisticated Instrumentation Centre, the Central Instrumental Laboratory and the University Service Instrumentation Centre on the Campus.

The Vishvwshvaranand Vishwabandhu Institute of Sanskrit and Indological stdies, Hoshiarpur, ks also affiliated to the University. Scholarships are awarded to students on the basis of merit and the student's aid fund gives financial aid to needy students. Facilities like inter-library loand, micro-fims and micro-card readings are available. The Indian Council of Social Sciences Research established its North West Regional Centre to function i collaboration with the University. The University has been consciously attracting the best minds to faculty.

It has providd such comprehensive facilities as a library, health centre, a Department of Youth Welfare, an Employment Information and Guidance Bureau, the University Press, and a gymnacium. Giving the widest possible asistance to students, the University runs an evening college and has also established a Directorate of Correspondance Courses. The architecture of the building was deigned under the guidance of Le Corbusier.

Universities play a vital role in shaping men and in turn, the destinies of nations. The Panjab University is working with dedication to achieve this objective.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India