Department of Public Administration

About Department of Public Administration

The Department of Public Administration, Panjab University, established in 1961, is among the oldest departments in the discipline in India. Over the past six decades, it has earned a distinguished reputation for excellence in teaching, research, training, and academic engagement in Public Administration and Governance. The Department combines academic rigour with practical orientation, preparing students and scholars to address contemporary governance challenges through research, policy analysis, and professional practice.

M.A. Programme
The Department offers a full-time M.A. in Public Administration designed in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The programme is interdisciplinary and professionally oriented, integrating classroom learning with seminars, workshops, field visits, internships, and research-based assignments.

Students may opt for either M.A. with Research, which includes a dissertation and advanced research-oriented courses, or M.A. without Research, which emphasizes applied courses, internships, and field-based learning.

The curriculum covers key areas such as local governance, public policy, development administration, public management, sustainable development, and digital governance. Students may choose elective courses from three specialization groups:

• Local Government
• Public Policy and Contemporary Governance
• Emerging Areas in Public Administration

These specializations provide opportunities to develop advanced analytical, professional, and research competencies aligned with contemporary governance needs.

Ph.D. Programme
The Department offers doctoral research leading to the Ph.D. degree under the Faculty of Arts. Admissions are based on UGC-NET/JRF, the Panjab University Ph.D. Entrance Test, or prescribed procedures for international candidates.

More than 224 Ph.D. scholars have successfully completed their doctoral research from the Department. Many of these studies are empirical and policy-oriented, addressing issues of governance, administration, public policy, and development. The Department also maintains an excellent record in UGC-NET/JRF examinations.

Research
Research has been a defining strength of the Department. Faculty members undertake interdisciplinary research in public administration, governance, public policy, social sector administration, and institutional development. The Department has received research support from agencies including the University Grants Commission (UGC), Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), British Council, State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), Government of Punjab, and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI). Faculty members and research scholars regularly publish books, monographs, and research papers in reputed national and international journals.

Training and Capacity Building
The Department has actively contributed to capacity building and administrative training for administrative and ministerial staff within Panjab University and other educational institutions in the region. Trainings covered areas such as office management, noting and drafting, disciplinary proceedings, communication skills, and digital/administrative competencies.

The Department has also contributed to soft skills and employability training initiatives, innovation, and professional development. The Department regularly organises Research Methodology Courses, workshops on Research and Publication Ethics, Soft Skill development and Academic Writing for research scholars, faculty members, and students. These initiatives aim to strengthen research capacity and promote high standards of academic integrity and scholarly excellence. A recent initiative in early 2026 was the NITI Aayog–DMEO Capacity Building Programme (Rapid Round III) to strengthen students' competencies in monitoring, evaluation, and evidence-based public policy.

Students are also encouraged to develop leadership, organisational, and decision-making skills through participation in the activities of the Administrative Sciences Society of the Department.
Academic Engagement and Collaborations
The Department regularly organizes seminars, conferences, workshops, expert lectures, and policy dialogues with scholars, administrators, and practitioners. Since 2017, its lecture series "Public Policy: Theory and Praxis" has promoted discussions on contemporary governance issues.

The Department maintains collaborations with academic institutions, professional organizations, and government agencies, including the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Punjab and Chandigarh Regional Branch. These partnerships support interdisciplinary research, academic exchange, and policy engagement.

An important recent milestone was the visit of Prof. James Korku Agbodzakey, Fulbright Specialist, in May 2026. During his visit, he conducted workshops on research methodology, scholarly writing, programme evaluation, grant proposal development, a faculty development programme and faculty mentoring. The visit contributed substantially to the Department's research culture, fostered international academic exchange, and opened avenues for future collaborative initiatives.

Placements and Internships
The Department has an active Placement Cell that organizes career counselling, resume-building workshops, and employability skill programmes. Graduates have established successful careers in the civil services, higher education, armed forces, banking, public sector organizations, and development institutions.

Students also gain practical exposure through internships with organizations such as the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration Punjab (MGSIPAP), Punjab State Information Commission, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, SOSVA, Indian Red Cross Society (Punjab), and other government and non-government organizations.

Alumni
The Department is supported by a vibrant alumni network through the Panjab University Public Administration Department Alumni Association (PUPADAA), established in 2018. Its alumni occupy distinguished positions in administration, academia, policing, public sector organizations, and policy making.

Notable alumni include Dr. M.S. Gill (Former Chief Election Commissioner of India and Union Minister), Dr. Dinesh Chandra (Former Additional Secretary, Government of India), Dr. G.S. Aujla (Former Additional Director General of Police, Punjab), and Prof. B.S. Ghuman (Former Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala). Alumni are also serving in academic and administrative institutions across countries such as Thailand, Nepal, Bangladesh, Iran, Kenya, and Afghanistan.

With a legacy spanning more than six decades, the Department continues to strengthen its commitment to academic excellence, policy-relevant research, capacity building, and public service, while preparing future leaders, administrators, researchers, and policymakers for an evolving governance landscape.