Pachhunga University College (PUC) is a public institute in Aizawl, Mizoram, and the only constituent college of Mizoram University, a central university established by an Act of Parliament of India. Founded in 1958 as Aijal College, it is the oldest and largest college in Mizoram, by enrolment and campus size. It started with intermediate of arts (equivalent of higher secondary education) courses, and later expanded to bachelor's degrees in arts, commerce and science. With the opening of master's degree courses in Mizo, Philosophy, and Life Sciences, it became the first postgraduate college in Mizoram.. In addition to these three PG courses, the college has also introduced master's degree courses in Geophysics (2020) and Applied Mathematics and Statistics (2022).

The college is named in honour of Pachhunga, a leading businessman and politician, who funded its initial management in 1962. It became a university college when the North Eastern Hill University incorporated it as its only constituent college in 1979. The permanent campus, occupied since 1965, is situated in College Veng, a locality at the eastern end of Aizawl. The 138-acre campus is the only verdant forest reserve in Aizawl, and is referred to as the "lung of the city." For its conservation of forests, it received the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Awards in 1995, a national award for pioneering and innovative works in afforestation and wasteland management, from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.

It received the Best College award from the Zoram Research Foundation, consecutively in 2004 and 2006. Between 2009 and 2013, the Department of Science and Technology of India awarded the college with a special scheme of Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology Infrastructure (FIST). In 2011, the Department of Biotechnology of India set up Institutional Biotech Hub, which was upgraded to Advanced Institutional Biotech Hub in 2017. The same year, DBT awarded its Star College Scheme. In 2017, the University Grants Commission made it College with Potential for Excellence. In 2021, the DBT awarded the college its first DBT-Boost to University Interdisciplinary Life Science Departments for Education and Research programme (DBT-BUILDER).

In 2023, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council classified it as "A+" grade with a CGPA of 3.47. The National Institutional Ranking Framework placed it at 49th among colleges in India, the only college within the top 100 list, and thus, the highest rank from northeast India.

The college is ranked 35th among colleges in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2024.

History

After the independence of India from the British Empire in 1947, the Mizo people were governed under the Government of Assam as Lushai Hills district. By 1950s, many Mizo people had completed secondary education with no further opportunity. J. Malsawma made the first provocative petition for the establishment of college by writing an open letter titled "Vana Pa College" in MZP Magazine; but to no avail. He and H.K. Bawichhuaka set up what they called an "Organising Board" at Pachhunga's house in Dawrpui, Aizawl, in 1957. By then, a philanthropic entrepreneur Pachhunga, known as the "most prosperous Mizo businessman" or "the wealthiest man in Mizoram", was made chairman of the board. The board held a public meeting in June 1957 at the Boys’ Middle English School, wherein the public unanimously voted the Deputy Commissioner of Lushai Hills as chairman of the board. The Deputy Commissioner then was adamant. In April 1958, Lawrence Singh Ingty from Mikir Hills become the new Deputy Commissioner. Quick to action, Ingty created the first Organising Board under his chairmanship, with Bawichhuaka as the Secretary, Malsawma as the Joint Secretary, and Lalhmingthanga (Pachhunga's son) as the Treasurer. Raising funds from donations by those who applied for arms license, he inaugurated Aijal College on 15 August 1958 (Indian Independence Day) at Aijal Theatre Hall (now Vanapa Hall).

At the behest of Ingty, Brother Godfrey Danis, who at the time was headmaster of St. Paul's High School, became the first but temporary principal. The faculty were volunteers and originally comprised a team of Christian missionaries including John Meirion Lloyd, Helen Lowry, Gwen Rees Roberts (Pi Teii) and Father O'Brien, along with educated natives such as Rita Neihpuii, Sangliana, and Malsawma. Classes officially started on 1 September 1958. Initially, classes were conducted at the Theatre Hall itself in the afternoon (which they called Evening Class). Towards the end of 1961, the college moved to an abandoned warehouse at Children's Park. For financial support, Ingty would ask for donation from people applying for arms license. Upon the request of the Organising Board, the Welsh Mission Board (Foreign Mission of the Presbyterian Church of Wales) appointed Rev. Alwyn Roberts as the first regular Principal in November 1960. In 1961, the college became government aided, and received affiliation from Gauhati University.

In 1962, the college was renamed Pachhunga Memorial College (PMC) after the death of Pachhunga, as his son, Lalhmingthanga donated INR 10,000 to the college on his father's behalf. It was relocated to its permanent campus in June 1965. On 1 July 1965, the Assam Government declared provincialisation (official recognition), 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. The University Grants Commission granted full recognition in 1969.

When Lushai Hills became a separate Union Territory as Mizoram from Assam in 1972, the management of the college was handed over to the Government of Mizoram. The college was renamed Pachhunga Government College in 1977. The affiliation was transferred to a newly established North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), on 19 April 1979. NEHU incorporated the college administration to its own and made it its only constituent college with a vision to promote it as a "pace-setting institution." Then it was renamed Pachhunga University College (PUC). With the setting up of Mizoram University on 2 July 2001, the authority was once again signed over to the new university; and remain as such ever since.

Courses

Development For a start, the degree consisted of only Intermediate of Arts (I.A.; modern equivalent of higher secondary) with five subjects such as English, Civics, Geography, History and Logic. New courses on basic science were instituted in 1973. 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 such as Biotechnology and Environmental Science were started. In 2018, Bachelor of Business Administration, postgraduate courses in arts and science were started. All courses are conducted with choice-based credit system.

Bachelor's degree course As of 2022, there are 11 bachelor's degree courses in arts and humanities: English, Economics, Education, Geography, History, Mizo, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration and Sociology).

There are 9 courses in science: Biotechnology, Botany, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology.

There are one course each in Commerce and BBA.

Master's degree courses As of 2022, there are five postgraduate courses: Applied Mathematics and Statistics (M.Sc.), Geophysics (M.Sc.), Life Sciences (M.Sc.), Mizo (M.A.), and Philosophy (M.A.).

Ph.D. course A Ph.D. programme is available in the Department of Life Sciences since 2020.

Additional courses

PUC is the Study Centre 1923 under IGNOU. Started in 2008, the centre 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.

UGC add-on and skill development courses have been introduced including Certificate Course in Pisciculture (2009-2013) and Certificate Course in Human Rights (since 2013). PUC also received UGC Community College Scheme in 2015 from which Diploma in Mushroom Cultivation course is offered. The college also conducts a self-financing Finishing School for graduating students. Coaching Class for Entry into Civil Services are conducted during winter sessions.

Two UGC-funded courses, Mizo Cultural Studies and Performing Arts, and Human Rights, were introduced in 2018.

Faculty There are 99 permanent teachers, including the principal. 60.57% of them possess PhD and 12% MPhil in their respective fields. There are 4 Professors, 23 Associate Professors, and 80 Assistant Professors. 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.

As the UGC introduced a new provision for college teachers to become full professors in 2010, J.V. Hluna became the first professor in colleges in Mizoram.

Students Average number of enrollment of students is 2,200 for the past five years, with approximately 850 fresh admission every year. Admission is done through online portal and selection is based on merit in the last board/university examination. Minimum mark required for application to any course is 50% of the total marks in the last examination. More than 95% belong to minority and Scheduled Tribe category. The average annual gender ratio of male to female is 1.1:1.

The college has official organisations for students such as Students' Union, National Service Scheme, National Cadet Corps, and Red Ribbon Club. It offers "Earn While Learn" scheme for students from low-income family to earn their educational expenses. Other independent co-curricular bodies include Cultural Club, Eco Club, Adventure Club, Literature Club, and Chess Club.

Awards for students The college and its alumni provide proficiency awards such as H.K. Bawichhuaka Proficiency Award for BA students, Lenrual Hlui Science Proficiency Award for BSc students, and Khawtinkhuma Proficiency Award for BCom students who secured highest marks in the final university examinations. There are sponsored awards such as ZET Award from Zoram Educational Trust (ZET) for meritorious students in physics, and SEL Foundation Award from Sunflower Electronics Foundation for students in physics, mathematics and chemistry.

NSS

PUC Unit of NSS was established in 1972. It organises community works and social services regularly. Annual programme includes Green Mizoram Day, Cleanliness Drive, and Mass Blood Donation. PUC Unit has won Indira Gandhi NSS Awards two times, in 1994–1995 and in 2015–2016. In the 2015–2016 Indira Gandhi NSS Awards, Zoramdinthara received the Programme Officer Award, and Chawnghlunchhungi received the Volunteers Award. It organises blood donation camps for which the college had been the record holder under the Government of Mizoram as the most blood donor since 1998.

Campus and infrastructure