Amritsar, January 28:- Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar has taken a historic and people-centric step by approving the Punjabi-First Education, Research and Governance Policy-2026. Under this policy, Punjabi (Gurmukhi script) will be placed at the heart of higher education without compromising global academic standards.
Announcing the decision, GNDU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Karamjit Singh said the policy aims to reconnect higher education with society and enable students to learn and express knowledge in the language they understand best.
At a time when higher education is increasingly distancing itself from society, this initiative seeks to reconnect universities with the language of the local population. Following the implementation of this policy, major academic works—such as PhD theses, dissertations, project reports and funded research outputs—will be mandatorily submitted in Punjabi (Gurmukhi) in addition to the primary academic language, usually English.
Prof. Karamjit Singh stated that the step is as simple as it is powerful. Knowledge produced in Punjab should be accessible not only at the global level but also to Punjabi-speaking students, teachers, parents, policymakers and citizens.
Global Knowledge with Local Access
The university clarified that academic projects submitted in Punjabi will not be treated as a mere formality. They will be evaluated on the basis of academic rigour, originality, research-oriented approach, clarity and accuracy. While the quality of research will continue to be assessed primarily in the mandatory academic language, Punjabi submissions will ensure that ideas, innovations and research outcomes do not face linguistic barriers.
Importantly, as long as meaning and accuracy are maintained, no discrimination will be made regarding writing style in Punjabi. The policy emphasizes learning, participation and confidence while firmly discouraging linguistic bias.
Why This Matters for Students and Punjab
For many students—especially those from rural, border and first-generation academic backgrounds—expressing ideas in Punjabi is far more natural than in other languages. This policy empowers them to engage more deeply with research and academic projects while retaining national and international mobility.
The policy is expected to have far-reaching and constructive outcomes for Punjab. Research related to agriculture, health, education, law, environment, entrepreneurship and society will now also be available in Punjabi, enabling broader public understanding, better policymaking and faster knowledge transfer to schools, startups, institutions and communities.
The Vice-Chancellor added that this step will help establish Punjabi not merely as a cultural language, but as a language of science, innovation and public welfare.
Strong Academic Support System
To ensure strict and uniform implementation of the policy, GNDU will establish a robust institutional support system, including:
Department-wise Punjabi academic terminology
Punjabi academic writing and referencing guides
A dedicated Punjabi Academic Support Unit for terminology and translation assistance.
A bilingual digital repository archiving research in both languages
Modern tools, including AI-based translation, may be used, with responsibility for accuracy and academic consistency resting with the respective researchers.
Phased and Fair Implementation
The policy will be implemented in a phased manner:
Year One: Doctoral theses and funded research
Year Two: Dissertations
Year Three: Major project reports and institutional research
Partial exemptions will be granted only in highly technical or legally constrained cases, provided that a mandatory Punjabi abstract is submitted.
In Line with National Education Policy 2020
This initiative fully aligns with the spirit of the National Education Policy-2020, which advocates multilingual education, mother-tongue-based learning and the removal of language barriers in higher education. GNDU’s model demonstrates how regional languages can harmonize with global academic excellence.
A Significant Step Toward a More Inclusive University
By institutionalizing bilingual research, GNDU is strengthening intercultural understanding and reaffirming the role of public universities as bridges between education and society.
Reiterating the university’s commitment, Prof. Karamjit Singh said that GNDU remains dedicated to excellence, equity and cultural leadership. The Punjabi-First Education, Research and Governance Policy-2026 is a decisive step toward ensuring that higher education in Punjab remains globally competitive, rooted in its heritage and socially meaningful.
The policy will come into effect from the upcoming academic session.
KL JIT WALIA
