The PAU is a pioneer state agricultural university (SAU) in India for research, education and extension in India. The university has played a pivotal role in making the country self-sufficient in food grain production and is known as “Mother of Green Revolution”.
Punjab, with 1.53% geographical area, contributes about 60% wheat and 45% rice to the central food grain kitty. This is the result of path-breaking research at PAU backed by world-class teaching and extension services provided at the door-step of the farmers.
- The university has recommended 809 varieties/hybrids of different crops out of which 173 have been released at national level.
- PAU produced the first hybrid grain pearl millet in the world.
- PAU has developed first Bt cotton variety, PAU Bt 1 in India. It has been released by ICAR for cultivation in Punjab and Haryana.
- PAU has developed less seeded PAU kinnow 1. It has 3-4 seeds per fruit as compared to 18-20 seeds in conventional kinnow fruit.
- Presently about 95% area under wheat and 60% area under rice in the state is under improved varieties recommended by PAU. The PAU varieties have been popular in many other states of the country as well.
- The PAU is leader in conservation agriculture as it recommended conservation tillage way back in late 80s. The direct-drilling of wheat in combine-harvested rice residues by PAU Happy Seeder is a classic example of conservation agriculture in the country.
- The university is pioneer in apiculture leading the state to produce 13.9 % honey of the country. It is pioneer in successful introduction, establishment and development of Italian honey bee (Apis mellifera) in India during 1962 to 1964
- The PAU is leader in farm mechanization and has facilitated the state as a ‘Farm Machinery Hub’ for the other states as well.
- The university research scientists have made possible the crop cultivation in non-conventional seasons (moong, maize, sugarcane, groundnut, mash).
PAU is a world-renowned university with active collaborations with CGIAR institutes (CIMMYT, IRRI, ICRISAT, ICARDA, CIAT), AVRDC, University of Wisconsin, WSU, Pullman; OSU, Columbus; KSU, Manhattan; Purdue University, USA; Olds College, Alberta, Canada; University of Western Australia, ACIAR, Australia.
Recognitions
- Based on its contributions, PAU was declared as Best state agricultural university in 1995 by ICAR. First SAU to receive this Award
- The ICAR has set up five centers of Advanced Studies at PAU (of these 3 are now in GADVASU).
- PAU was the first university to get special grant of
100 crores by the Central Government in 2006-07 for Basic and Strategic Research in Agriculture and as an acknowledgement of its role in eliminating food shortages and alleviating hunger: First University to receive as high as100 crore Grant - First International Potash Institute (Switzerland) and Fertilizer Association of India (IPI-FAI) Award for transfer of technology in balanced use of fertilizer in 2010
- First Agricultural University of the Year Award (Krishi Shiksha Samman) by Mahindra & Mahindra in 2011
- Agriculture Leadership Award by Agriculture Today Group in 2015
- PAU got ISO 9001: 2008 Certification.
- Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding performance in Maize Research and Development during 1957-2015
- Certificate for Best Performance in Breeder seed Production of maize during 1995-2015
PAU Rankings at National Level
- Ranked 3rd among all Agricultural Institutions/Universities by ICAR in 2017
- Ranked 40th among all Agricultural Institutions by MHRD (NIRF) in 2017
- Ranked 24th among all Universities by MHRD (NIRF) in 2017
- Ranked 7th among all State funded Universities by MHRD (NIRF) in 2017
- Ranked 3rd among all Agricultural Institutions/Universities by MHRD (NIRF) in 2017
- Ranked 2nd among all Agricultural Universities by MHRD (NIRF) in 2017
- Ranked 1st among Top State Universities based on total number of research publications by CII-ICI in 2017
- Ranked 1st among Top State Universities based on number of research paper citations by CII-ICI in 2017
- Ranked 1st for development of Landmark Varieties by Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding in 2017
NIRF Ranking
| Year | Univ. | Overall Ranking (Inst. + Univ.) | SAUs (Ranking) |
| 2017 | 24 | 40 | 2 |
| 2018 | 38 | 60 | 3 |
| 2019 | 51 | 75 | 3 |
| 2023 | 54 | 74 | 1 |
ICAR Ranking
| Year | Among SAUs | Overall Ranking |
| 2016 | 1 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 | 7 |
| 2019 | 1 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 | 5 |
National Awards Won by PAU Alumni
| Padma Bhushan | 7 |
| Padma Shri | 10 |
| Rafi Ahmad Kidwai Award | 24 |
| S S Bhatnagar Award | 2 |
| B.P.Pal Memorial Award | 1 |
| ICAR Jawaharlal Nehru Award | 19 |
| Om Parkash Bhasin Award | 2 |
| Fellows NAAS | 74 |
| FNA / FNASc | 19 |
| Arjuna Award | 3 |
| World Food Prize | 1 |
| Sahitya Academy Award | 3 |
Coveted Positions held by PAU Alumni
| DDG/Director, International organizations | 8 |
| DDG, ICAR | 9 |
| Director General, ICAR | 1 |
| Director General, CSIR | 1 |
| Chairman, ASRB | 4 |
| Chairman, CACP, GOI | 3 |
| Vice Chancellors | 42 |
| Agriculture/Horticulture Commissioner, GOI | 5 |
| ADG, ICAR /Directors of Institutes | 38 |
| National Professors/Fellows | 13 |
| Indian Administrative Services | 14 |
| Union Minister in Kenya | 1 |
| Head, Industrial Units | 11 |