Chandigarh, May 1 -- The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified Panjab University with the highest "Category 1" status of autonomy. UGC examined the proposal of Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, in its 579th commission meeting held on April 16, and decided to grade the varsity as a Category 1 university under the UGC (Categorization of Universities (only) for Grant of Graded Autonomy) Regulations, 2018.

There are 56 central universities, out of which less than 10 are in the commission's top category of autonomy as of February 2024. Officials have confirmed that the category 1 status will not affect PU's status as an inter-state body corporate and will not weaken Punjab's claim on the university, even when Punjab and Haryana ha...