Pachhunga University College

History and development

The college was inaugurated as Aijal College on the day of the 11th Independence Day of the country on 15 August 1958 at Aizawl Theatre Hall (now Vanapa Hall), by the then Deputy Commissioner of the Lushai Hills District (former name for Mizoram under the Government of Assam), Lawrence Singh Ingty. The start of the college was primarily at the behest of the enthusiastic locals in order to meet the growing need of higher education among the native Mizo youth. The faculty originally comprised a team of Christian missionaries, with a few educated natives, who worked purely on voluntary basis. At the onset, classes were conducted at the Theatre Hall itself, and towards the end of 1961, the college moved to an abandoned warehouse at Children's Park. In 1962 it was renamed Pachhunga Memorial College (PMC) after the philanthropic entrepreneur Mr. Pachhunga, he and his family who were outstanding benefactors of the college since its inception. It was relocated to its permanent campus in June 1965. On July 1, 1965, the Assam Government declared provincialization, and the name was once more changed to Pachhunga Memorial Government College (PMGC). Permanent teachers were appointed only in 1967 under the Assam Public Service Commission. After which UGC granted recognition in 1969. When the Mizoram Union Territory was formed in 1972, the management of the college was handed over to the Government of Mizoram.The college was renamed Pachhunga College in 1977 till 1979. Eventually, the entire administration was taken over by North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) on 19 April 1979. With this transfer of authority, it became the one and only constituent college of the university, and it was again renamed as Pachhunga University College (PUC). With the setting up of Mizoram University on 2 July 2002, the authority was once again signed over to the new university; and remain as such ever since.

Faculty and course progression

For a start, the faculty consisted of only Intermediate of Arts (I.A.; modern equivalent of higher secondary) with five subjects such as English, Civics, Geography, History and Logic. The courses were affiliated to Gauhati University in 1961. New courses on basic science were instituted in 1973. In 1974 the affiliation was transferred to the newly established North Eastern Hill University. The faculty of commerce was introduced in 1984, and with this, the college was, and remains, the only institute in Mizoram to offer the three different disciplines. Department of Public Administration was initiated in 2005. From 2012 two new departments, viz. Biotechnology and Environmental Science, were started. Presently, there are 11 departments in arts (English, Economics, Education, Geography, History, Mizo, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration and sociology), 9 in science (Biotechnology, Botany, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology), and 1 in commerce. All these departments offer core/honour subject for Bachelor's degree. IGNOU Study Centre 1923 offers certificate courses such as in Environmental Studies, Laboratory Techniques, Higher Education, and HIV and Family Education, along with bachelor's degrees in arts and science.

Present status

There are 104 permanent teachers, including the Principal. 60.57% of them possess PhD and 12% MPhil in their respective fields. There is 1 Professor, 23 of them are Associate Professors, and 80 are Assistant Professors. Prof J.V. Hluna is the first Professor under UGC in Mizoram. There are 71 supporting staff including Assistant Registrar, Section Officer, clerks, peons, drivers and cleaners. There are 25 technical staff including laboratory assistants, mechanic, electrician and carpenters. Average number of enrollment of students is 1350 for the past five years, with approximately 600 fresh admission every year.

Infrastructure and development

There are five academic buildings, one central library, one administrative building, one departmental office, seven staff quarters, health clinic cum counseling centre, two hostels each for boys and girls, an auditorium; two cafeterias; NSS/Students’ Union Office, power generator room, ring well, basketball court, volleyball court, playground with pavilion, and seismological observatory. Academic buildings are multi-storeyed consisting of class rooms and laboratories. In addition, Academic Block 1 consists of Student's Recreation Centre and Internet Resource Centre. Academic Block 2 consists of a workshop/maintenance cell. Science Building consists of Student's Recreational Hall and IGNOU Centre 1923. Sophisticated Seminar Hall and Biotech hub are at the Life Science Building. The administrative building is divided into Principal's chamber, establishment cell, finance cell, faculty common room and departmental offices. Auditorium also consists of badminton court and a cafeteria. There are 28 rooms in the girls' hostel, and 56 in the boys', and each is a double roo,therefore, catering 56 girl and 112 boys. A free access Internet Resource Centre, the first of its kind in Mizoram, was established under NER FIST of the Department of Science and Technology. All offices and departmental rooms are linked with internet connectivity through broadband service. All classroom and laboratories are furnished with fixed LCD projection system from 2012.

Library facilities

The college library was set ablaze on 4 November 1981. With restoration and procurement, it has now once again emerged into one of the largest institutional libraries in North-eastern India. There are 42,803 general books, 34242 textbooks, 8561 reference books, 29 academic journals, and a number of magazines and newspapers available. Reprography and internet access are also available. Library automation has been initiated, and is using INFLIBNET. PUC LIBRARY

Laboratory facilities

All science departments, Geography and Psychology have separate laboratories. The laboratories are adequately provided with state-of-the-art equipments for practical classes. Sophisticated instruments are also available for research activities. Laboratories are further maintained through NER FIST of the Department of Science and Technology. Departments of Botany, Chemistry and Zoology are further supported by the Star College Scheme of Department of Biotechnology since 2012.

The institution receives grants from various funding agencies for research activities. The institution has an internal funding system for research and development schemes: UGC: The college, during the period of assessment, undertook 23 UGC sponsored research projects out of which 21 are minor research projects and 2 are major research projects. DBT: The college has two major research projects under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. DST: The college has four major research projects under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. DST (Women Scientist): The college hosts two women scientists funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. In fact, these are the only two women scientists working at the institutional level within Mizoram. DBT STAR College Scheme: The college is the only Star College within Mizoram under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The college has received a total of Rs. 36.17 lakhs (Non-recurring - 20 lakhs & Recurring Rs. 16.17 lakhs). Star college scheme supports Botany, Chemistry, Physics & Zoology Departments. Institutional Biotechnology Hub: The college is also supported by the Department of Biotechnology under the Institutional Biotechnology Hub for North East Scheme. This hub has been hosted by the Department of Zoology since 2012. A total of Rs. 42.62 lakhs has been sanctioned to the college. State Government: The College also hosts a project “Zo Huan” sponsored by the Department of Horticulture and “Icthyofauna of Dampa Tiger Reserve” sponsored by the Environment and Forest Department, Government of Mizoram. Private Sponsorship: The college hosts a minor project sponsored by Zoram Educational Trust (ZET). College sponsored: The college sponsored a minor research project for the Department of Botany to study the flora of the campus.

Summary of research projects with grants can be seen in the table below: (data as of December 2015) Sponsoring Agency Total Sanctioned (Rs.) UGC(Minor) 4647370 ZET (minor) 120000 DST(Major) 9829000 UGC (major) 1926000 DBT 11225000 GOM 704000 College 50000

NAAC Accreditation

On 5th November 2016, the college has been assessed and re-accredited Grade A+ with CGPA of 3.51 on four points by the 18th SC constituted by the Executive Committee of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council(NAAC), Bangalore, India.