AMRITSAR: In a landmark decision aimed at democratising access to knowledge and strengthening the roots of higher education in Punjab, Guru Nanak Dev University has approved the Punjabi-First Education, Research and Governance Policy 2026, making Punjabi (Gurmukhi script) a mandatory medium for major research outputs alongside English.
Announcing the policy, Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Karamjeet Singh described it as a “historic and people-centric step” that aligns with the spirit of the National Education Policy 2020 while ensuring that GNDU remains committed to global academic excellence.
“Knowledge generated in Punjab must not remain confined to elite academic circles or locked behind language barriers, ” Prof. Karamjeet Singh said. “By requiring that PhD theses, dissertations, project reports and funded research outputs be submitted in both English (or the primary academic language) and Punjabi, we are making groundbreaking research accessible to Punjabi-speaking students, teachers, parents, policymakers and the wider society. This is about inclusion, equity and cultural confidence without any compromise on quality.”
Vice Chancellor said that under the policy, the Punjabi version will be academically rigorous, faithful to the original work, and evaluated for clarity, accuracy and fidelity to the research findings. Prof. Karamjeet Singh emphasised that students would not face penalties for natural stylistic variations in Punjabi expression, as long as the meaning and scientific integrity remain intact.