Record Student Applications at Punjab Agricultural University Reflect Growing Interest in Agriculture Careers
Record number of students chase new farming careers at Punjab Agricultural University.
Image: The Times Of India
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has seen a record 7,800 applications for the academic year 2026-27, marking a 22% increase in participation for its Common Entrance Test. The rise in interest is attributed to changing job trends and the university's reputation in agricultural education.
- 01PAU received 7,800 applications for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for 2026-27.
- 02The Common Entrance Test saw a 22% increase in participation, with 4,258 applicants this year.
- 03International applications rose to 738, indicating global interest in PAU's programs.
- 04Postgraduate courses experienced significant demand, with some attracting more than double the number of applicants compared to available seats.
- 05High-demand fields include food and nutrition, agribusiness, journalism, and soil science.
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Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has reported a record 7,800 applications for its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for the academic year 2026-27. This represents a significant 22% increase in participation for the Common Entrance Test, with 4,258 candidates taking the exam compared to 3,497 last year. The university also attracted 738 international applications, showcasing its growing global appeal. Specialized admission tests showed similar trends, with the Agricultural Eligibility Test applications rising to 1,104 from 849 and the Ballowal Saunkhari Entrance Test increasing to 770 from 667. The most notable growth was observed in postgraduate disciplines, where certain courses received more than double the number of applicants than available seats. Fields such as food and nutrition, agribusiness MBAs, journalism, forestry, soil science, plant breeding, and agricultural meteorology are particularly in demand. University officials attribute this surge to changing employment trends and a heightened recognition of agriculture as a modern professional field. Vice-Chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal emphasized PAU's status as a premier institution in agricultural research and education, supported by its updated curriculum and strong community ties.
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The surge in applications at PAU may lead to increased educational opportunities and job prospects in the agriculture sector.
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