Chief Minister Attends Puc Nirf 35th Ranking Celebration

Aizawl : Pachhunga University College (PUC) recently celebrated its achievement of being ranked 35th among India’s top colleges in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) during a ceremony held at the PUC Seminar Hall. The event was graced by Chief Minister Pu Lalduhoma as the chief guest, along with Higher & Technical Education Minister Dr. Vanlalthlana.

For the past three years, Pachhunga University College has consistently ranked among the top 50 colleges in India.

In his speech, the Chief Minister shared his personal connection with the institution, recounting his days as a student at Champhai Pre-University College (PUC). He mentioned the challenges he faced, including a lack of basic amenities like clean drinking water, and how he persevered in his studies. Later, while serving as the PA to the Chief Minister, he continued his studies at this college, though his duties often prevented him from attending classes regularly. Despite these challenges, he successfully graduated from PUC. The Chief Minister expressed his pride in the college’s achievement and conveyed his appreciation to all those who contributed to this success. He also highlighted the government’s commitment to improving education in Mizoram, emphasizing that investments in health and education are viewed as critical investments for the state’s future.

The Chief Minister also urged students to focus on skill development and to prepare themselves to contribute effectively to the state’s progress. He announced the introduction of a Hand Holding Policy, which will offer interest-free loans of up to Rs. 50 lakh to young entrepreneurs. He encouraged the youth to take advantage of this policy and strive for self-reliance. Furthermore, he called on students to protect themselves from harmful influences and bad habits.

In recognition of his connection to the college, PUC presented a token of appreciation to the Chief Minister, who had graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976 while serving as PA to the CM.

Dr. Vanlalthlana also spoke at the event, expressing gratitude to everyone at PUC. He noted that Mizoram is the only state in NE India with a college ranked among the top 100 in the NIRF, and he urged students to strive for excellence.

Prof. H. Lalthanzara, Principal of PUC, expressed his gratitude to everyone involved, especially the government, for securing the land lease for PUC, which has been a long-awaited achievement. He also shared details about the college’s progress, noting that PUC currently has around 2,700 students enrolled in various undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. programs across Arts, Science, Commerce, and Management streams.

Prof. Lalhriatzuala, Assistant Coordinator, IQAC, provided an overview of the NIRF ranking process, explaining how PUC has consistently performed well since it first entered the rankings in 2018. The college ranked between 101 and 150 in its initial years, moved up to 45th in 2022, and is currently ranked 35th in 2024. This year, 3,371 colleges across the country participated in the NIRF rankings, with 182 colleges from NE India. PUC remains one of the top-ranked colleges from the region.

During the celebration, Rev. Dr. Lalrokhuma Hmar, Head of the History of Christianity Department at Aizawl Theological College, led a prayer of thanksgiving, while Prof. Vanlalchhawna, Finance Officer at Mizoram University, delivered a speech. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Margaret Z. Khiangte, Vice Principal of PUC.