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{{Draft article|nomove=yes}}
{{Short description|Private state university in Punjab, India}}
{{Short description|Private state university in Punjab, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox university
{{Infobox university
| name                   = Lovely Professional University
| name           = Lovely Professional University
| native_name            =  
| other_names    = LPU
| image_alt             =  
| image_alt       =  
| caption               =  
| caption         =  
| motto                 = "''Transforming Education Transforming India''"
| motto           = "Transforming Education Transforming India"
| motto_lang             = en
| motto_lang     = en
| mottoeng              =  
| motto_eng      =  
| established           = {{Start date|2005}}  
| established     = {{Start date|2005}}
| type                   = [[Private university|Private]]
| type           = [[Private university|Private]]
| chancellor             = [[Ashok Kumar Mittal]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lpu.in/about_lpu/leadership.php | title=University leaders, University Founder, Entrepreneural University Leaders }}</ref>
| 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       = Dr. Preeti Bajaj<ref>{{Cite web |title=University leaders, University Founder, Entrepreneural University Leaders |url=https://www.lpu.in/about_lpu/leadership.php#:~:text=and%20the%20world.-,Vice-Chancellor,-DR.%20PREETI%20BAJAJ |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=www.lpu.in}}</ref>
| vice_chancellor = Jaspal Singh Sandhu
| head_label            = Pro&nbsp;Chancellor
| 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>
| head                  = Rashmi Mittal<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lpu.in/about_lpu/leadership.php | title=University leaders, University Founder, Entrepreneural University Leaders }}</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>
| academic_staff        =  
| city            = [[Chaheru, Phagwara]]
| students              = 30,000+ (2020)
| state          = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| city                  = [[Chaheru, Phagwara]] {{Efn|The campus is situated in [[Chaheru, Phagwara|Chaheru village of Phagwara Tehsil]], 8km from Phagwara railway station. |name=}}
| country        = India{{Efn|The campus is situated in [[Chaheru, Phagwara|Chaheru of Phagwara Tehsil]], 8km from Phagwara railway station. |name=}}
| state                  = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| coordinates    = {{Coord|31.253609|75.70367|type:edu|display=inline,title}}
| country                = India
| campus         = Rural
| coor                  = {{Coord|31.253609|75.70367|type:edu|display=inline,title}}
| 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>
| campus                 = Rural {{Efn|The campus is situated in [[Chaheru, Phagwara]] Punjab, Pincode 144411, a village. Therefore campus falls under rural category.|name=}}
| colours         = {{color box|Orange}} Orange
| campus_size            = {{convert|600|acre}}
| sports_nickname =  
| colours               = {{color box|Orange}} Orange
| 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]],<!--
| nickname              =  
| logo           = Lovely Professional University Official Logo.png
| 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]],
| logo_size       = 190 -->
| logo                   = Lovely Professional University Logo.svg
| website         = {{URL|https://www.lpu.in/}}
| logo_size             = 120
| image           = Lovely Professional University logo.png
| website               = {{URL|https://www.lpu.in/}}
| image_size     = 120
| image                 = Lovely Professional University logo.png
| footnotes       =  
| image_size             = 120
| footnotes             =
| image_name            =  
}}
}}
'''Lovely Professional University''' ('''LPU''') is a private university located in Chaheru, [[Phagwara]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India.<ref>{{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=2023-05-20 |website=www.classhud.com}}</ref> The university was established in 2005 by Lovely International Trust, through the Lovely Professional University Act, 2005 (Punjab Act 25 of 2005)<ref>https://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/privateuni/lovelyuni.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=April 2022}}</ref> and started operation in 2006.<ref>https://lawsofindia.blinkvisa.com/pdf/punjab/2005/2005PN25.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=April 2022}}</ref>


==Campus==
'''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>
The university campus is spread over 600 acres<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/qMZyjvmhURR5iUsIcm5r9M/Lovely-University--Cashing-in-on-an-opportunity.html | title=Lovely University &#124; Cashing in on an opportunity | date=3 August 2009 }}</ref> in [[Chiheru|Chaheru Village]] on the [[Jalandhar district|Jalandhar]]-Delhi GT Road. [https://www.nirfindia.org/2022/UniversityRanking.html Lovely Professional University (LPU) ranks among the Top 50 Universities in India by NIRF, Govt. of India Ranking.] LPU Punjab offers programs for [[Undergraduate degree|Undergraduate]], [[Postgraduate education|Postgraduate]], Research Scholars, [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] and working professionals via Regular, Distance, Online and welcomes international students.


==Governance==
==Governance==
The university is governed by chancellor [[Ashok Kumar Mittal]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lpu.in/about_lpu/leadership.php | title=University leaders, University Founder, Entrepreneural University Leaders }}</ref> The administration and operations are governed by [[pro-chancellor]] of the institution Rashmi Mittal.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lpu.in/about_lpu/leadership.php | title=University leaders, University Founder, Entrepreneural University Leaders }}</ref> Preeti Bajaj is the vice-chancellor of the university.<ref>{{Cite web |title=University leaders, University Founder, Entrepreneural University Leaders |url=https://www.lpu.in/about_lpu/leadership.php#:~:text=and%20the%20world.-,Vice-Chancellor,-DR.%20PREETI%20BAJAJ |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=www.lpu.in}}</ref>
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>


==Affiliations==
==Academics==
[[File:Lovely Professional University (LPU), Jalandhar-Phagwara Highway, Jalandhar.jpg|left|thumb|University entrance gate]]The Lovely Professional University is affiliated and recognised by national facilitators such as [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]] (UGC),<ref>{{cite web |date=29 June 2017 |title=State -wise List of Private Universities as on 29.06.2017 |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> [[Pharmacy Council of India]],<ref>{{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>  [[Bar Council of India]],<ref>{{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>{{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> etc.
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>


LPU's School of Agriculture is accredited by the [[Indian Council of Agricultural Research]].<ref>{{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>
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"/>


LPU is a member of the [[Association of Commonwealth Universities]].<ref>{{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>
===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>


The distance education programmes are approved by the UGC's [[Distance Education Bureau]].<ref>{{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>
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>


==Schools==
LPU has the following schools on various subjects ranging from [[business]], [[fashion design]], [[engineering]], [[law]], [[education]], to [[agriculture]], [[humanities]], [[tourism]], etc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://schools.lpu.in/|title=LPU Schools and Department List|website=schools.lpu.in}}</ref>
==Rankings==
==Rankings==
{{Infobox India university ranking|THE_W_2022=1001-1200|NIRF_O_2022=58|NIRF_U_2022=47|NIRF_P_2022=19|NIRF_E_2022=51|NIRF_L_2022=13|NIRF_A_2022=12|NIRF_B_2022=34}}
{{Infobox India university ranking
''[[Times Higher Education]]'' World University Rankings 2022 ranked LPU in 1001–1200th.<ref name="timeshighereducation.com">{{Cite web |date=13 November 2021 |title=Lovely Professional University |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/lovely-professional-university}}</ref> In India, the [[National Institutional Ranking Framework]] ranked Lovely Professional University 81st overall, and 62nd among universities. It also ranked it 37th in management, 23rd in pharmacy, 66th in engineering, 24th in law and 12th in architecture ranking in India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MoE, National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF)|url=https://www.nirfindia.org/2021/Ranking.html|access-date=23 January 2022|website=www.nirfindia.org}}</ref>
|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>


== Notes ==
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>
{{Noteslist}}
 
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==
==References==
Line 65: Line 103:


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


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


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

Latest revision as of 13:40, 28 September 2026


Lovely Professional University
Other names
LPU
Motto
"Transforming Education Transforming India"
TypePrivate
Established2005 (2005)
ChancellorAshok Kumar Mittal[1]
Vice-ChancellorJaspal Singh Sandhu
Academic staff
2066[2]
Students34,871 (2024)[3]
Location
Chaheru, Phagwara
,
Punjab
,
India[lower-alpha 1]

31°15′13″N 75°42′13″E / 31.253609°N 75.70367°E / 31.253609; 75.70367
CampusRural
Colours  Orange
AffiliationsUGC, AIU, PCI, NCTE, COA, ACBSP, ACU, ICAR, BCI,
Websitewww.lpu.in

Lovely Professional University (LPU) is a private university located in Chiheru, Phagwara, Punjab, India.[5][6] Established under the Lovely Professional University Act, 2005, it commenced operations in 2006.[7][8]

Governance[edit | edit source]

The university's founder and chancellor is Ashok Kumar Mittal, with his wife Rashmi Mittal as the pro-chancellor.[9]

Academics[edit | edit source]

LPU has schools on various subjects including business, fashion design, engineering, law, education, agriculture, humanities, and tourism.[10]

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.[10]

Affiliations[edit | edit source]

The Lovely Professional University is affiliated and recognised by national facilitators such as the University Grants Commission (UGC),[11] the Pharmacy Council of India,[12] and the Bar Council of India.[13][14]

LPU's School of Agriculture is accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.[15] It has accreditations and memberships of the National Board of Accreditation (NBA),[citation needed] Council of Architecture (CoA),[16] and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).[17]

LPU is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.[18] The distance education programmes are approved by the UGC's Distance Education Bureau.[19]

Rankings[edit | edit source]

University rankings

In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025, LPU secured the 49th position overall. NIRF ranked Lovely Professional University 31st among universities.[20] It also ranked 44th in management, 13th in pharmacy, 48th in engineering, 26th in law and 24th in architecture ranking in India.[21]

LPU ranked 501–600th band in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and 901–950 in the QS World University Rankings in 2026.[22][23]

Protests[edit | edit source]

2022 student protest[edit | edit source]

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.[24][25]

Students gathered on campus and demanded an investigation. Police deployed additional personnel to the university during the protests.[26]

2026 student protests[edit | edit source]

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.[27][28]

The protests began near a girls' hostel and later spread across the campus and to the Jalandhar–Phagwara section of 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.[29][30]

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.[31]

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.[32]

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.[33]

Controversies[edit | edit source]

Faculty member's remarks about Lord Ram[edit | edit source]

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.[34][35]

Enforcement Directorate searches involving Ashok Mittal[edit | edit source]

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 (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.[36][37]

2026 response to sexual-assault allegations[edit | edit source]

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.[38][39]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ The campus is situated in Chaheru of Phagwara Tehsil, 8km from Phagwara railway station.
  2. ↑ The campus is situated in Chaheru, Phagwara Punjab, Pincode 144411, a village. Therefore the campus falls under the rural category.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Meet our founders & leaders". Lovely Professional University. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "SSR Information Sheet, Page 14".
  3. ↑ "NIRF Application" (PDF).
  4. ↑ "SSR Information Sheet".
  5. ↑ "Lovely Professional University Ranks Among the World's Best Universities". www.usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report.
  6. ↑ "Exploring the Wonders of Lovely Professional University". classhud.com. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "University grants" (PDF). ugc.gov.in. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "The Lovely Professional University Act, 2005" (PDF). 5 May 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "Newsmaker | Mr Mittal goes to Parliament: The Lovely ride from a shop to House". The Indian Express. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "LPU Schools and Department List". schools.lpu.in.
  11. ↑ "State-wise List of Private Universities" (PDF). www.ugc.ac.in. University Grants Commission. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  12. ↑ "Approved Degree institutions u/s 12". www.pci.nic.in. Pharmacy Council of India. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  13. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ↑ "Statutory Body Constituted under the Advocates Act, 1961" (PDF). lpu.in. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Status of NAEAB Accredited Agriculture Universities/Colleges" (PDF). Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  16. ↑ "List of approved Institutions". coa.gov.in.
  17. ↑ "NRC Recognized Institutions (PUNJAB)". ncte.gov.in.
  18. ↑ "ACU members". www.acu.ac.uk. Association of Commonwealth Universities. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  19. ↑ Distance Education Bureau (18 October 2018). "Commission decision" (PDF). Letter to Lovely Professional University. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  20. ↑ "NIRF 2024: Punjab's private varsities Chandigarh University, LPU take top slots; IIT Ropar slips to 48". The Indian Express. 13 August 2024.
  21. ↑ "MoE, National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF)". NIRF. Archived from the original on 11 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  22. ↑ "Lovely Professional University". Times Higher Education (THE). 1 March 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  23. ↑ "Lovely Professional University (LPU)". Top Universities. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  24. ↑ "Kerala student dies by suicide at LPU; NIT Calicut prof booked for abetment". The Indian Express. 22 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "Student's suicide sparks massive protest at university in Punjab's Phagwara". India Today. 21 September 2022.
  26. ↑ "Massive protest in Punjab's Lovely Professional University after first-year student dies by suicide". The Times of India. 21 September 2022.
  27. ↑ "Violence over sexual assault claim in LPU, university denies incident". The Indian Express. 28 September 2026.
  28. ↑ "Punjab's Lovely Professional University Suspends Classes, Postpones Mid-Term Exams Amid Unrest". NDTV. 28 September 2026.
  29. ↑ "LPU row escalates: Police lathicharge students, stones pelted, vehicles set ablaze". The Times of India. 27 September 2026.
  30. ↑ "2,000 cops deployed, classes suspended for 10 days: Lovely Professional University protests spiral into violence". The Times of India. 28 September 2026.
  31. ↑ "LPU protest: NH-44 in Phagwara reopened after 15-hour blockade; situation under control". Moneycontrol. 28 September 2026.
  32. ↑ "Punjab's Lovely Professional University Suspends Classes, Postpones Mid-Term Exams Amid Unrest". NDTV. 28 September 2026.
  33. ↑ "LPU protest: Traffic on NH-44 restored, situation under control, say police". Hindustan Times. 28 September 2026.
  34. ↑ "Punjab: Lovely Professional University sacks faculty member for 'insulting' Lord Ram". The Indian Express. 24 April 2022.
  35. ↑ "University Sacks Professor For Alleged Offensive Remark Against Lord Ram". NDTV. 25 April 2022.
  36. ↑ "ED raids premises linked to AAP MP Ashok Mittal, who replaced Raghav Chadha as Rajya Sabha deputy leader". The New Indian Express. 15 April 2026.
  37. ↑ "ED raids against AAP MP Ashok Mittal linked educational institutions". The Week. 15 April 2026.
  38. ↑ "Students Deny 'Rape' In Video Released By Punjab's Lovely Professional University, Then Call It Scripted". NDTV. 27 September 2026.
  39. ↑ "Students say 'no rape incident happened' in LPU video, then allege it was scripted". The Times of India. 28 September 2026.

External links[edit | edit source]

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