Lovely Professional University

2026-09-28T08:10:54Z

2001:67C:2628:647:36:1300:0:B8: Expanded the page based on multiple sources

{{Draft article|nomove=yes}}
{{Short description|Private state university in Punjab, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
{{pp|small=yes}}

{{Infobox university
| name = Lovely Professional University
| other_names = LPU
| image_alt =
| caption =
| motto = "Transforming Education Transforming India"
| motto_lang = en
| motto_eng =
| established = {{Start date|2005}}
| type = [[Private university|Private]]
| chancellor = [[Ashok Kumar Mittal]]<ref name="about">{{cite web | url=https://www.lpu.in/about-lpu/#leadership | title=Meet our founders & leaders | publisher=Lovely Professional University | access-date=14 January 2026 }}</ref>
| vice_chancellor = Jaspal Singh Sandhu
| academic_staff = 2066<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assessmentonline.naac.gov.in/public/index.php/ssr_report/eyJpdiI6Imt4ZVlCdXk4Skx0TW91WWZTR3A5NEE9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiaXF5UnJuaDFMckNXdU4wclBIU2R3QT09IiwibWFjIjoiY2ZmYzBiZGIwOWRhYjU3NjdkYjM5ZmU1ODI1N2U0MWRkZjcxOGE0YWUwMDU1MTQzMWU1N2RlZmU5MGU4MGNhYyIsInRhZyI6IiJ9#page=14|title=SSR Information Sheet, Page 14}}</ref>
| students = 34,871 (2024)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nirfindia.org/nirfpdfcdn/2024/pdf/Overall/IR-O-U-0379.pdf|title=NIRF Application}}</ref>
| city = [[Chaheru, Phagwara]]
| state = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| country = India{{Efn|The campus is situated in [[Chaheru, Phagwara|Chaheru of Phagwara Tehsil]], 8km from Phagwara railway station. |name=}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|31.253609|75.70367|type:edu|display=inline,title}}
| campus = Rural
| campus_size = {{convert|90|acre}}{{Efn|The campus is situated in [[Chaheru, Phagwara]] Punjab, Pincode 144411, a village. Therefore the campus falls under the rural category.|name=}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assessmentonline.naac.gov.in/public/index.php/ssr_report/eyJpdiI6Imt4ZVlCdXk4Skx0TW91WWZTR3A5NEE9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiaXF5UnJuaDFMckNXdU4wclBIU2R3QT09IiwibWFjIjoiY2ZmYzBiZGIwOWRhYjU3NjdkYjM5ZmU1ODI1N2U0MWRkZjcxOGE0YWUwMDU1MTQzMWU1N2RlZmU5MGU4MGNhYyIsInRhZyI6IiJ9#page=12|title=SSR Information Sheet}}</ref>
| colours = {{color box|Orange}} Orange
| sports_nickname =
| affiliations = [[University Grants Commission (India)|UGC]], [[Association of Indian Universities|AIU]], [[Pharmacy Council of India|PCI]], [[National Council for Teacher Education|NCTE]], [[Council of Architecture|COA]], [[Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs|ACBSP]], [[Association of Commonwealth Universities|ACU]], [[Indian Council of Agricultural Research|ICAR]], [[Bar Council of India|BCI]],
| website = {{URL|https://www.lpu.in/}}
| image = Lovely Professional University logo.png
| image_size = 120
| footnotes =
}}

'''Lovely Professional University''' ('''LPU''') is a private university located in [[Chiheru]], [[Phagwara]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lovely Professional University Ranks Among the World's Best Universities |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/lovely-professional-university-530057 |website=www.usnews.com |publisher=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Exploring the Wonders of Lovely Professional University |url=https://www.classhud.com/blogs/view/exploring-the-wonders-of-lovely-professional-university |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=classhud.com}}</ref> Established under the Lovely Professional University Act, 2005, it commenced operations in 2006.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.ugc.gov.in/oldpdf/privateuni/lovelyuni.pdf|title=University grants|website=ugc.gov.in|access-date=24 September 2023}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://lawsofindia.blinkvisa.com/pdf/punjab/2005/2005PN25.pdf|title=The Lovely Professional University Act, 2005|date=5 May 2022|access-date=24 September 2023}}</ref>

==Governance==
The university's founder and chancellor is [[Ashok Kumar Mittal]], with his wife Rashmi Mittal as the [[pro-chancellor]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2022-04-09 |title=Newsmaker {{!}} Mr Mittal goes to Parliament: The Lovely ride from a shop to House |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/ashok-mittal-goes-to-parliament-the-lovely-ride-from-a-shop-to-house-7861650/ |access-date=4 December 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

==Academics==
LPU has schools on various subjects including [[business]], [[fashion design]], [[engineering]], [[law]], [[education]], [[agriculture]], [[humanities]], and [[tourism]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=LPU Schools and Department List |url=https://schools.lpu.in/ |website=schools.lpu.in}}</ref>

The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes across multiple disciplines. Its academic offerings include programmes in engineering and technology, management, law, agriculture, education, architecture, pharmacy, design, humanities and social sciences, among others.<ref name=":5"/>

===Affiliations===
The Lovely Professional University is affiliated and recognised by national facilitators such as the [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]] (UGC),<ref name=":6">{{cite web |date=29 June 2017 |title=State-wise List of Private Universities |url=http://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/Private%20University/Consolidated%20List%20Private%20Universities%20as%20on%2029.06.2017.pdf |access-date=31 August 2017 |website=www.ugc.ac.in |publisher=[[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]] |language=en}}</ref> the [[Pharmacy Council of India]],<ref name=":7">{{cite web |title=Approved Degree institutions u/s 12 |url=http://www.pci.nic.in/collegescourses/approveddegreeinstitutionsus12-8.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329115803/http://pci.nic.in/collegescourses/ApprovedDegreeinstitutionsus12-8.aspx |archive-date=29 March 2016 |access-date=31 August 2017 |website=www.pci.nic.in |publisher=[[Pharmacy Council of India]]}}</ref> and the [[Bar Council of India]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.barcouncilofindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/List-of-Law-Colleges-having-approval-by-the-BCI.pdf/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124012427/http://www.barcouncilofindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/List-of-Law-Colleges-having-approval-by-the-BCI.pdf |archive-date=24 January 2022 |access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{cite web |title=Statutory Body Constituted under the Advocates Act, 1961 |url=https://www.lpu.in/downloads/bci_approval.pdf |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=lpu.in}}</ref>

LPU's School of Agriculture is accredited by the [[Indian Council of Agricultural Research]].<ref name=":10">{{cite web |title=Status of NAEAB Accredited Agriculture Universities/Colleges |url=https://icar.org.in/sites/default/files/StatusAgriculturalUniversitiesAccredited.pdf |publisher=[[Indian Council of Agricultural Research]] |access-date=4 April 2019}}</ref> It has accreditations and memberships of the [[National Board of Accreditation]] (NBA),{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} [[Council of Architecture]] (CoA),<ref>{{cite web |title=List of approved Institutions |url=https://www.coa.gov.in/pgInstitutionStatus.php |website=coa.gov.in}}</ref> and [[National Council for Teacher Education]] (NCTE).<ref>{{cite web |title=NRC Recognized Institutions (PUNJAB) |url=https://ncte.gov.in/website/RecognizedInstitutionLists.aspx?cid=RkyBZuGG3BJmNPdOZfDPiZ+IJgF4qYIWKbFJ%2fG1lJ68Srhg6hgx+NoE1P6FNlOle3o2Ze2F1bgnV3EYhg4Si4w%3d%3d&regionid=3&state=PUNJAB&stateid=%2flI8sJuuAUx7XSs90AXFNA%3d%3d |website=ncte.gov.in}}</ref>

LPU is a member of the [[Association of Commonwealth Universities]].<ref name=":11">{{cite web|title=ACU members|url=https://www.acu.ac.uk/membership/acu-members/?country_id=102&items_perpage=20&pageID=5|website=www.acu.ac.uk|publisher=[[Association of Commonwealth Universities]]|access-date=5 September 2017}}</ref> The distance education programmes are approved by the UGC's [[Distance Education Bureau]].<ref name=":12">{{Cite letter|url=https://www.lpu.in/downloads/UGC-DEB.pdf|author=Distance Education Bureau|author-link=Distance Education Bureau|date=18 October 2018|title=Commission decision|access-date=31 January 2020|recipient=Lovely Professional University}}</ref>

==Rankings==
{{Infobox India university ranking
|NIRF_B_2024=38
|NIRF_O_2023=46
|NIRF_U_2023=38
|NIRF_L_2023=16
|NIRF_R_2023=42
|NIRF_E_2024=50
}}

In the [[National Institutional Ranking Framework]] (NIRF) 2025, LPU secured the 49th position overall. [[National Institutional Ranking Framework|NIRF]] ranked Lovely Professional University 31st among universities.<ref>{{cite web |title=NIRF 2024: Punjab's private varsities Chandigarh University, LPU take top slots; IIT Ropar slips to 48 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/nirf-2024-rankings-punjab-private-varsities-iit-ropar-9509940/ |website=The Indian Express |language=en |date=13 August 2024}}</ref> It also ranked 44th in management, 13th in pharmacy, 48th in engineering, 26th in law and 24th in architecture ranking in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MoE, National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2025/Ranking.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251011021252/https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2025/Ranking.html |archive-date=11 October 2025 |access-date=31 October 2025 |website=NIRF |language=en}}</ref>

LPU ranked 501–600th band in the ''[[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]],'' and 901–950 in the ''[[QS World University Rankings]]'' in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 March 2022 |title=Lovely Professional University |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/lovely-professional-university |access-date=6 February 2026 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lovely Professional University (LPU) |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/lovely-professional-university-lpu |access-date=7 February 2026 |website=Top Universities |language=en}}</ref>

==Protests==

===2022 student protest===
In September 2022, students at LPU staged a protest following the death by suicide of a first-year Bachelor of Design student. Police said a suicide note recovered from the student's room referred to personal issues. The student had previously studied at the [[National Institute of Technology Calicut]] and the note named a professor there; police subsequently registered a case against the professor for alleged abetment to suicide and formed a special investigation team.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala student dies by suicide at LPU; NIT Calicut prof booked for abetment |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/punjab-massive-protests-lpu-jalandhar-student-dies-suicide-8163407/ |work=The Indian Express |date=22 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Student’s suicide sparks massive protest at university in Punjab's Phagwara |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/student-suicide-lovely-professional-university-punjab-protests-2002768-2022-09-21 |work=India Today |date=21 September 2022}}</ref>

Students gathered on campus and demanded an investigation. Police deployed additional personnel to the university during the protests.<ref>{{cite news |title=Massive protest in Punjab's Lovely Professional University after first-year student dies by suicide |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/massive-protest-in-punjabs-lovely-professional-university-after-first-year-student-dies-by-suicide/articleshow/94339790.cms |work=The Times of India |date=21 September 2022}}</ref>

===2026 student protests===
In September 2026, LPU became the site of large student protests after claims circulated on social media alleging that a female student had been sexually assaulted on the university campus and subsequently died by suicide. The claims were initially unverified, and police said they had not initially received a complaint concerning such an incident. The university denied the allegations and described them as false and unverified rumours.<ref>{{cite news |title=Violence over sexual assault claim in LPU, university denies incident |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/lpu-students-protest-rape-violence-property-damange-10896683/ |work=The Indian Express |date=28 September 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Punjab's Lovely Professional University Suspends Classes, Postpones Mid-Term Exams Amid Unrest |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/punjab-lpu-rape-rumour-lpu-protest-punjabs-lovely-professional-university-suspends-classes-postpones-mid-term-exams-amid-unrest-12107057 |work=NDTV |date=28 September 2026}}</ref>

The protests began near a girls' hostel and later spread across the campus and to the Jalandhar–Phagwara section of [[National Highway 44 (India)|NH-44]]. Protesters damaged university property, set some objects and vehicles on fire and blocked the highway. The confrontation with police later involved stone-pelting and a police lathi charge, with several police personnel reported injured.<ref>{{cite news |title=LPU row escalates: Police lathicharge students, stones pelted, vehicles set ablaze |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/lpu-row-escalates-police-lathicharge-students-after-highway-blockade-stone-pelting-reported/amp_articleshow/134522175.cms |work=The Times of India |date=27 September 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=2,000 cops deployed, classes suspended for 10 days: Lovely Professional University protests spiral into violence |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2000-cops-deployed-classes-suspended-for-10-days-lovely-professional-university-protests-spiral-into-violence-top-developments/amp_articleshow/134530767.cms |work=The Times of India |date=28 September 2026}}</ref>

Police subsequently said that a rape case had been registered against an unknown person based on a complaint and that a special investigation team had been formed. Investigators said they would examine forensic evidence, CCTV footage and call records. As of 28 September 2026, authorities had not publicly established whether the alleged assault had occurred on the university campus.<ref>{{cite news |title=LPU protest: NH-44 in Phagwara reopened after 15-hour blockade; situation under control |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/city/lpu-protests-nh-44-in-phagwara-reopened-after-15-hour-blockade-situation-under-control-article-14039493.html |work=Moneycontrol |date=28 September 2026}}</ref>

Following the violence, LPU suspended regular classes for 10 days from 28 September and postponed its mid-term examinations until further notice. Students were permitted to return home in consultation with their parents or guardians, while those remaining on campus were advised to stay in their hostels or residences.<ref>{{cite news |title=Punjab's Lovely Professional University Suspends Classes, Postpones Mid-Term Exams Amid Unrest |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/punjab-lpu-rape-rumour-lpu-protest-punjabs-lovely-professional-university-suspends-classes-postpones-mid-term-exams-amid-unrest-12107057 |work=NDTV |date=28 September 2026}}</ref>

The highway blockade lasted for more than 15 hours before traffic was restored. Police said the situation was subsequently brought under control, while a large police contingent remained deployed around the university.<ref>{{cite news |title=LPU protest: Traffic on NH-44 restored, situation under control, say police |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/lpu-protest-traffic-on-nh-44-restored-situation-under-control-say-police-101790564645718.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=28 September 2026}}</ref>

==Controversies==

===Faculty member's remarks about Lord Ram===
In April 2022, LPU dismissed assistant professor Gursang Preet Kaur after a video circulated on social media in which she made comments about the Hindu deity [[Rama]]. The university said that the views expressed were personal and that it did not endorse them. The context of the remarks in the video was reported as unclear.<ref>{{cite news |title=Punjab: Lovely Professional University sacks faculty member for ‘insulting’ Lord Ram |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/amritsar/punjab-lovely-professional-university-sacks-faculty-insulting-lord-ram-7884910/ |work=The Indian Express |date=24 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=University Sacks Professor For Alleged Offensive Remark Against Lord Ram |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/varsity-sacks-professor-for-derogatory-remarks-on-lord-ram-2916247 |work=NDTV |date=25 April 2022}}</ref>

===Enforcement Directorate searches involving Ashok Mittal===
In April 2026, the [[Enforcement Directorate]] conducted searches at premises linked to LPU founder and chancellor [[Ashok Kumar Mittal]] as part of an investigation under the [[Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999|Foreign Exchange Management Act]] (FEMA). The searches covered business and residential premises in Punjab and Haryana and included premises associated with Lovely Professional University and other educational institutions linked to Mittal. According to officials cited by the [[Press Trust of India]], the investigation concerned overseas financial transactions involving the educational institutions.<ref>{{cite news |title=ED raids premises linked to AAP MP Ashok Mittal, who replaced Raghav Chadha as Rajya Sabha deputy leader |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/apr/15/ed-raids-premises-linked-to-aap-mp-ashok-mittal-in-fema-probe |work=The New Indian Express |date=15 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=ED raids against AAP MP Ashok Mittal linked educational institutions |url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2026/04/15/ed-raids-against-aap-mp-ashok-mittal-linked-educational-institutions.html |work=The Week |date=15 April 2026}}</ref>

===2026 response to sexual-assault allegations===
During the September 2026 protests, LPU released a video featuring three female students from the hostel where the alleged incident was said to have occurred. The students initially stated that no rape had taken place in their room. The students later alleged that they had been coached or pressured to appear in the video and that portions of their statements had been edited. The university's earlier denial and the subsequent allegations concerning the video became part of the wider dispute surrounding the protests.<ref>{{cite news |title=Students Deny 'Rape' In Video Released By Punjab's Lovely Professional University, Then Call It Scripted |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/punjab-university-lpu-students-protest-rape-lovely-professional-university-12106376 |work=NDTV |date=27 September 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Students say ‘no rape incident happened’ in LPU video, then allege it was scripted |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/lpu-suspends-classes-for-10-days-postpones-mid-term-exams-amid-protests-over-rape-murder-claims/articleshow/134529867.cms |work=The Times of India |date=28 September 2026}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.lpu.in/}}

{{Universities in Punjab}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Universities in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Education in Jalandhar]]
[[Category:Educational institutions in India established in 2005]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Private universities in India]]

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Lovely Professional University