Punjab has transformed into “Padhta Punjab from Udta Punjab” : Harjot Bains

Udta Punjab to Padhta Punjab

The Punjab Unaided Colleges Association (PUCA), in collaboration with Collegedunia, organized a special conference titled “Digital Punjab – Transforming Education Through Technology” with the vision of making Punjab the No. 1 Destination for Higher Education in India.

The conference was inaugurated by S. Harjot Singh Bains, Hon’ble Education Minister of Punjab, who graced the event as the Chief Guest. S. Satnam Singh Sandhu, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), was the Guest of Honour, while Sh. Sumandeep Singh Walia, Senior Deputy Advocate General of Punjab, attended as the Special Guest. Social worker Karan Gilhotra from Plaksha University was also present.

The conference was presided over by Dr. Anshu Kataria, President of PUCA & Chairman of Aryans Group of Colleges, and Mr. Sahil Chalana, Founder & CEO of Collegedunia.

During the event, S. Bains and S. Sandhu also flagged off the PUCA delegation to Kathmandu and Srinagar. The association has earlier conducted successful Education Summits in Bihar, Jharkhand, and the North East to create awareness that Punjab is emerging as a preferred destination for higher education across India.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Minister Harjot Singh Bains stated that “Punjab has rapidly evolved from the image of ‘Udta Punjab’ to ‘Padhta Punjab’.” He reiterated the State Government’s commitment to making Punjab the leading state in Higher Education, just as it already leads the nation in School Education. He also lauded Dr. Kataria’s continuous efforts in representing the cause of unaided colleges of Punjab.

Several distinguished education leaders, including Karan Gilhotra, Manjit Singh, Dr. Jagjit Singh Dhuri, Dr. Gurmeet Dhaliwal, Ashok Garg, Mohit Mahajan, Rajesh Garg, Nirmal Singh, Rajan Chopra, Dr. Gopal Munjal, Satyam Bhardwaj, Dr. D. J. Singh, and Parveen Garg, attended the event.

In his address, S. Satnam Singh Sandhu remarked that “Punjab has always been a frontrunner – be it in the freedom struggle, humanitarian service, or now in its pursuit of excellence in education.” He commended PUCA’s efforts and called for collective initiatives to strengthen Punjab’s educational ecosystem. He also appealed to educational institutions to contribute towards flood relief funds, announcing a personal donation of ₹1.25 lakhs.

Dr. Anshu Kataria emphasized PUCA’s unwavering commitment to protecting the interests of self-financing institutions while promoting Punjab as a global hub of higher education. He underlined the vital role of digital tools and innovation in modernizing classrooms and enhancing students’ career outcomes.

Mr. Sahil Chalana assured Collegedunia’s continued support in the digital transformation of Punjab’s education ecosystem, reaffirming the shared goal of building a tech-driven, progressive Punjab.