Department of Mathematics

About Department of Mathematics

History and Background
The Department of Mathematics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, was established at Hoshiarpur in 1952 and relocated to Chandigarh in 1958. Since its inception, the Department has grown into one of the leading centres of mathematical education and research among Indian universities. Its academic standing was recognised nationally when the University Grants Commission (UGC) designated it as the first Centre of Advanced Studies in Mathematics in 1963. This distinction continued until the scheme was discontinued for all universities.

Academic Programmes, Faculty and Infrastructure
The Department offers a four-year undergraduate (UG) programme followed by a one-year M.Sc. programme, as well as a two-year M.Sc. programme for students who have completed a three-year B.Sc. degree. Its faculty expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of mathematical disciplines, including Algebra, Number Theory, Analysis, Continuum Mechanics, Queueing Theory, Applied Probability, Mathematical Modelling, and Fluid Dynamics. Academic infrastructure includes two well-equipped computing laboratories and a modern seminar room outfitted with smart classroom technology. At present, the department comprises 13 regular faculty members, 2 UGC Assistant Professors, and 3 Professors Emeriti.

Grants, Library and Regional Outreach
The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has sponsored the department under its FIST (Level-II) programme. In addition, the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM) granted Regional Library status to the departmental library and funds the consortium for online access to MathSciNet, with the department serving as the lead partner. The NBHM also provides substantial annual grants for books and journals. The department functions as a nodal centre for both Regional and National Mathematical Olympiad participants from the North-West Region. It also serves as the zonal examination and interview centre for NBHM M.A./M.Sc. and Ph.D. scholarships awarded by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India.

Faculty Honours and Distinctions
Faculty members have received numerous prestigious national and international honours, including the Padma Bhushan, the Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal (INSA and ISCA), the Jawaharlal Nehru Award (ISCA), the Meghnad Saha Award in Mathematical Sciences, the V. V. Narlikar Memorial Lecture Award (INSA), the INSA Medal for Young Scientists, the Narasinga Rao Medal (Indian Mathematical Society), the B. C. Roy Award, and the Biren Roy Award (INSA). Faculty have also earned fellowships across all three national science academies, the UGC National Fellowship, the UNESCO-ROSTCA Young Scientist Award, the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Fellowship, as well as several memorial lecture awards from the IMS (Sir James Lighthill, P. L. Bhatnagar, and Srinivasa Ramanujan).

Three faculty members of this Department have received the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Mathematical Sciences and Five faculty members have served as President of the Indian Mathematical Society. At present, three of our regular faculty members are Fellows of the National Academy of Sciences, India. In addition, two of our Professors Emeritus are Fellows of all three National Science Academies of India as well as The World Academy of Sciences.

Alumni
Many of our alumni are serving as faculty members in colleges, universities, IITs, and distinguished institutions in India and abroad. Apart from academia, our alumni have succeeded in remarkably diverse professions such as Software Engineering, Banking, Data Analysts, Civil Services, Army, Administrative Services, Actuarial Scientists and various other professions. Their journeys demonstrate that the study of mathematics does not lead to a single career—it develops logical thinking, discipline, creativity, and problem-solving abilities that are valuable in almost every profession.