CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Vidhan Sabha has unanimously passed the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur World Class University Punjab Bill, 2026, tabled by Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. The landmark legislation proposes the establishment of a state-of-the-art university at Sri Anandpur Sahib, blending Punjab’s spiritual legacy with cutting-edge higher education. The institution aims to offer North India’s first specialised courses in defence technology, aerospace, artificial intelligence, cyber security and quantum computing, with aspirations to match global institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Highlighting the vision behind the project, Bains said the university would focus on emerging technologies and strategic studies not currently available in leading institutes across the region. He emphasised Punjab’s unique needs as a border state and stressed the importance of research in national security, policing and advanced technologies. The university will also introduce diverse programmes ranging from defence studies and robotics to semiconductor engineering, cyber warfare and military law, aiming to prepare students for future challenges.
The Punjab government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has proposed an investment of ₹300 crore over the next three years, with courses expected to begin by July 2026 at a temporary transit campus. The university is projected to educate over 10,000 students in the coming decade while generating significant employment opportunities, marking a major step toward positioning Punjab as a hub for advanced technology and research.
