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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
PAU opens training centre for UPSC aspirants
In a step to guide Punjab's youth towards careers in civil services, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) inaugurated the state training centre for IAS, PCS, and other competitive exams, at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Auditorium in the Students' Home. PAU vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal, praised the Punjab Government's initiative to establish such centres across the state. He said the centre at PAU, the first of its kind at the university, would be instrumental in shaping the future of aspiring bureaucrats and scholars. Highlighting the vital contribution of civil servants and agricultural scientists to nation-building, Gosal emphasised that the centre will provide free coaching to meritorious students, especially those from financially weak backgrounds. He added that a dedicated building for the centre is already in the pipeline and students will have full access to PAU's central library and other academic facilities. Director of students' welfare, Nirmal Jaura, elaborated on the centre's purpose, calling it a step towards equal opportunity in education and public service. He informed the audience that PAU's centre is among eight, recently approved by the Punjab Government to train candidates for top government roles including IAS, IPS, PCS, IRS, and ARS. Jaura noted that a qualifying test, to be conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, will be used to select deserving students, who will also be eligible for scholarships. Gursharanjit Singh Sandhu, principal of Government SCD College, lauded the initiative as a 'guiding light' for students determined to join civil services. The advisory panel includes top officials like the PAU vice-chancellor, director of higher education, deputy commissioner of Ludhiana, and PAU registrar, while the working committee is headed by Vipan Kumar Rampal with a team of dedicated faculty members. As part of the inaugural ceremony, two outstanding students were honoured by the vice-chancellor. Parisdeep Aulakh, from the College of Horticulture and Forestry, secured an All-India Rank of 172 in UPSC CAPF 2024. Sourav, an alumnus of the College of Agriculture and now assistant director with MSME, was also recognised for his achievements. International Day for Biological Diversity celebrated The department of forestry and natural resources, in collaboration with the NSS unit at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity on June 16. The event was organised under the global theme 'Be Part of the Plan', with the aim to promote environmental awareness. The ceremony supported by the National Biodiversity Authority through the Punjab Biodiversity Board and the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh, drew participation of around 250 students. The highlight of the day was an expert lecture by Renu Bhardwaj, former professor at Guru Nanak Dev University, on 'How to Sustain Development and Preserve Biodiversity.' Bhardwaj captivated the audience by addressing the urgent need to protect natural resources amid growing environmental challenges like climate change, urban sprawl, and industrialisation. Chief guest RIS Gill, estate officer, PAU, spoke about the root causes of biodiversity erosion and stressed the importance of its conservation through sustainable practices. The programme also included several interactive student competitions such as poster-making and slogan-writing. The poster making competition was triumphed by Jasmandeep Kaur, Dhami Kapila, and Mehakpreet Kaur while Tanya Kaur, Arppita Sharma, and Avreet Kaur bagged prizes in slogan writing. Concluding the event, GPS Dhillon, head of the department, highlighted PAU's commitment to biodiversity conservation, especially through nursery production of traditional tree species.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Indian Institutional Ranking Framework: PAU bags top podium spot, adjudged best among 67 state agri varsities
Reaffirming its stature as a national leader in agricultural education and research, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has clinched the top spot among 67 state agricultural universities (SAU) and secured second position nationwide in the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2025. Out of 78 agricultural and horticultural institutions assessed – including Indian Council of Agricultural Research-deemed universities, central agricultural universities and ICAR institutes – PAU stands just behind ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. The rankings, regarded as a credible benchmark of academic excellence, are based on comprehensive evaluation criteria including research output, teaching quality, placements, industry linkages, innovation, and faculty performance. The Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) evaluates and ranks over 2500 institutions across the country. PAU vice-chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal hailed the achievement as a reflection of the university's enduring commitment to academic and research excellence. 'PAU's consistent presence at the top of national rankings underscores the dedication of our faculty, students and staff. Our mission to support Indian agriculture through education, innovation and outreach remains stronger than ever,' he said. Registrar Dr Rishi Pal Singh (IAS) also commended the university's performance, attributing the high ranking to PAU's holistic focus on cutting-edge research and farmer-centric innovation. Dr MIS Gill, dean of postgraduate studies and a key coordinator in the ranking process, said that PAU's strong national positioning reaffirms its forward-thinking vision in agricultural science. With a legacy that spans decades, PAU is known for its robust institutional framework comprising over 35 departments, six constituent colleges and 10 regional research stations. The university has developed over 950 crop varieties, significantly advancing productivity in wheat, rice, cotton and horticultural crops. It is also a leader in research publications, patents and technology transfers. PAU's extension network impacts lakhs of farmers annually, delivering high-quality seeds, training and expert guidance. Its active collaborations with national and international bodies further reinforce its reputation as a global center of agricultural excellence. The IIRF 2025 honour follows PAU's consistent top-tier performance in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings, where it secured the top SAU position and the third overall rank among agricultural institutions in both 2023 and 2024.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
With PAU's remote driven paddy transplanter, no need to enter fields.
Ludhiana: The two wheel, walk-behind paddy transplanters, though widely used, demand intense manual effort, especially under puddled field conditions where temperatures range between 38-44°C and humidity exceeds 70%. The operators often walk more than 20 km a day in puddled fields, frequently repositioning the machine every row and then, leading to significant fatigue and discomfort. To mitigate this drudgery, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has come up with a remotely controlled transplanter that allows the operator to control the machine from a safe, dry, and shaded location, significantly improving comfort. The new system for transplantation of rice through smart mechanization has been developed by the department of farm machinery and power engineering at PAU under the National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) and the All-India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Ergonomics and Safety in Agriculture and Allied Sectors (ESAAS) with the aim of addressing the ergonomic and operational difficulties of conventional paddy transplanting. It is possible to operate it remotely, standing comfortably outside the puddled field by steering the machine with ease using a wireless remote. As per university field evaluations, the innovation increased field capacity by 10-12% due to consistent operating speed, reduced operator fatigue by a staggering 85%, and cut down total labour requirements by 40%. These improvements translated into a net profit gain of 5-15%, making the system economically and physically more viable. Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, PAU vice-chancellor, said the university had established the School of Digital Innovations for Smart Agriculture (S-DISA) to accelerate the adoption of digital solutions in farming. Dr. Manjit Singh, dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, PAU, gave the details for promoting widespread adoption of the new machine. They stated that the university had conducted several demonstrations and exhibitions at kisan melas, field days, and exposure visits over the past year. The new invention was also lauded by Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during his recent visit at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Patiala, where its demonstration was given. He lauded Punjab Agricultural University's pioneering efforts in sensor-based automation for paddy transplantation. He stressed upon the need to make such innovations widely accessible, especially to small and marginal farmers, to reduce labour fatigue and boost on-field efficiency. Dr ML Jat, director general of ICAR, present there also also applauded PAU's forward-thinking approach.
Hindustan Times
31-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Journalism dept at PAU sees surge in applications
After struggling to keep the classroom not empty, the department of journalism at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has seen a turnaround as the applications to MA journalism and mass communication course have gone up to more than twice the number of seats. The department's MA course has seven seats and starting in the late 2010s it started to see a fall in the number of students and the class strength fell to just one student last year. This year the department already has 15 applications. The turnaround for the department is part of the rise in the number of applications for courses across the Varsity. The rise in the number of applications have been attributed to the change in immigration rules to Canada after the friction between the two countries last year which resulted in strict restrictions on Indians trying to move there. The university has received over 6,500 applications across different courses, a significant increase compared to the figures from recent years. According to vice-chancellor, Satbir Singh Gosal, the low number of application in the last few years were due to 'overwhelming allure of foreign education, particularly in Canada.' HoD, deparmtent of journalism, Sheetal Thapar said, 'The department is fully committed to ensure quality media training by adapting to the changing media landscape and innovation.' She highlighted that the department is also planning to upgrade its media lab into an omni man lab with a TV studio to ensure that the students can be trained properly for the industry in line with the modern requirements. 'The department is also planning to incorporate social media management and the role of artificial intelligence in media into the training,' she added.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
PAU-BITS Pilani tie up to marry agri with tech
Ludhiana: Punjab Agricultural University recently tied up with BITS-Pilani for collaborative ventures in precision agriculture, data analytics, internet of things (IoT), geospatial science, and joint research and training programmes, heralding a new era of interdisciplinary excellence. PAU vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal said, "While the university had been collaborating with other agricultural universities and institutes, it has now signed an MoU with BITS-Pilani for advancements in technology. Technology and innovation will drive the next wave of agriculture. This collaboration is expected to facilitate the integration of cutting-edge tools viz., AI, drones, IoT sensors, robotics, spectroscopy, and GIS, into various facets of agriculture. " He emphasised PAU's continued pursuit of partnerships that convert research into scalable, field-level solutions to benefit farmers and industry stakeholders. He said, "The next phase of development in agriculture can be driven through technology. Such technologies are also expected to reduce the use of water. For example, sensors can tell information if the optimum level of moisture has reached and it can automatically shut down water release, which would save water. " Citing another example, he said, "Technologies such as machine-driven sowing of paddy can bring about transformative changes. Sensors and robots can now detect yellowing of plants, indicating lack of nitrogen, enabling the spraying of it on the exact spot and in exact measure, preventing excessive use. This will also save cost and increase yield." Ajmer Singh Dhatt, director of research (PAU), spoke about the university's leading role in agricultural innovation. He cited its monumental contributions to crop breeding, nutrient and water use efficiency, conservation agriculture, and its pivotal role in the Green Revolution. This strategic tie-up would infuse PAU's research ecosystem with the latest technological insights, he said. Manjeet Singh, dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, said, "The agreement aims to build long-term institutional synergies to address the emerging challenges in agriculture in India."
