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.