About Us

Guru Nanak Dev University – A Legacy of Excellence Since 1969

Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), established on November 24, 1969, was founded in honour of the Quincentenary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the revered founder of Sikhism. Conceived as both a residential and affiliating University, GNDU was created under the Guru Nanak Dev University Act of 1969 with a mission to advance education and research across diverse disciplines, including the humanities, professional studies, sciences, applied sciences, and technology.

Grounded firmly in the teachings and values of Guru Nanak Dev Ji—universal brotherhood, truthfulness, compassion, non-violence, tolerance, harmony, and humanity—the University continues to integrate these timeless principles into its academic and social endeavours. A core objective remains the scholarly study of Guru Nanak’s life and teachings and the promotion of Punjabi language and culture. The University has also prioritized inclusive education for historically marginalized communities.

Academic Excellence & Milestones

Over its illustrious 56-year journey, GNDU has evolved into a premier centre of higher learning in fields such as Science, Arts, Management, Information Technology, Media and Industrial Technology, Environment, Planning, and Architecture.

Key Achievements

  • University with Potential for Excellence status awarded by UGC.

  • NAAC A++ Accreditation (4th Cycle) in December 2022 with a CGPA of 3.85/4, among the highest in India.

  • h-index increased significantly from 62 (2017) to 163 (2025), reflecting high-quality national and international research output.

  • First university in Punjab to achieve UGC Category-1 Status, enabling:

    • Opening new departments and schools

    • Starting distance education programmes

    • Hiring foreign faculty without UGC approval

    • Setting up off-campus centres

  • First government university in North India to launch the E-Sanad portal (2025) for digital document verification.

National & Global Rankings

  • Ranked among the Top 10 High Performing State Public Universities by MHRD.

  • Ranked in the Top 23% of Universities Worldwide by CWUR 2024.

  • Featured in the Nature Index, among the top institutions in Punjab and North India.

  • Ranked 12th among Top General Government Universities in India (2024) by India Today – MDRA University Rankings 2025.

Campus, Infrastructure & Accessibility

Occupying 500 acres on the western side of Amritsar, GNDU is known for its lush green campus, sustainable environment, and modern architecture.

Campus Strengths

  • 46 teaching departments

  • 2 regional campuses

  • 170 affiliated and constituent colleges, many in rural areas to enhance accessibility

  • More than 20,000 students, a majority being women

  • Full compliance with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

  • Fully automated processes: Online admissions, counseling, evaluation, re-evaluation, SMS-enabled results, OMR-based transparency

To uphold the University’s cultural mission, tuition fees have been waived for students in the Department of Guru Nanak Studies and the School of Punjabi Studies.

Research, Innovation & Advanced Facilities

GNDU has made remarkable contributions to scientific and technological research.

Major Research Highlights

  • Prestigious funded projects from MHRD, DST, CSIR, BARC, and others worth crores of rupees

  • One of the four national BARC Nodal Calibration Centres established on campus

  • Cutting-edge Centre of Emerging Life Sciences with state-of-the-art instrumentation

  • A modern computer lab in collaboration with TCS

  • Centre with Potential for Excellence in Life Sciences and Centre for Advanced Study in Chemistry (UGC-supported)

  • Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation under RUSA for skill development and incubation

To further strengthen research culture:

  • 100 University Fellowships of ₹8,000/month are awarded to Ph.D. scholars

  • Research facilities are extended to affiliated colleges

The University has also introduced AI-focused, industry-oriented programmes and integrated entrepreneurship training across degree courses, enabling students to become innovators and job creators.

Sports Excellence

GNDU stands as a national leader in university sports.

  • Winner of the Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Trophy a record 25 times

  • State-of-the-art sports infrastructure including:

    • Astro-Turf hockey field

    • International-standard swimming pool

    • Velodrome

    • Modern gymnasium

    • Shooting range

Recent Achievements

  • GNDU shooters won 5 individual gold, 6 team gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze in the 16th Asian Shooting Championship (Kazakhstan, 2025)

  • Appointed Nodal University for the World University Games, Germany 2025

Cultural Achievements & Youth Development

  • 1st Runners-Up at the 38th Inter-University National Youth Festival (Amity University, Noida, 2025)

  • 2nd Runners-Up at the Punjab State Inter-University Youth Festival (2024–25)

  • Music Trophy winners and multiple accolades at earlier national youth festivals

The Lifelong Learning Department continues to empower local communities, especially women, through vocational and skill-based programmes.

Environment & Sustainability

GNDU has been declared the Most Swachh Campus among multi-speciality public universities and ranked 2nd nationally among all government universities in the Swachh Campus Ranking 2019.

Placements & Industry Connect

Graduates from engineering, management, commerce, architecture, and planning have secured positions in:

  • Leading multinational companies

  • Reputed corporate sectors

  • Government and administrative services

Their success enhances GNDU’s reputation as a centre of excellence.

Social Responsibility: Animal Welfare Society

In collaboration with Animal Welfare and Care Services (AWCS), a registered NGO operating in India and Canada, GNDU has established an Animal Welfare Society to promote compassionate treatment of animals, conduct rescue operations, and spread awareness about animal rights.

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