Overview
On June 23, 2026, the Punjab Unaided Colleges Association (PUCA) organized two Education B2B Summits in Patna, Bihar and Ranchi, Jharkhand. The events brought together leading educational institutions from Punjab and more than 500 education consultants and academic leaders from the two host states.
Scholarship Announcement
During the summits, PUCA announced a scholarship programme valued at Rs 50 crore. The funds will be disbursed through the participating institutions to support meritorious and deserving students from Bihar and Jharkhand seeking quality higher education.
Key Statements
Dr. Anshu Kataria, President of PUCA and Chairman of Aryans Group of Colleges, Rajpura (near Chandigarh), addressed the gatherings. He noted that Punjab has become a premier higher‑education destination in North India due to its industry‑oriented curriculum, affordable fees, safe environment, strong placement records, and robust industry‑academia linkages. Kataria highlighted that Bihar produces nearly 12.5 lakh Class XII pass‑outs annually, while Jharkhand contributes over 4 lakh such graduates each year, generating a massive demand for quality higher‑education opportunities.
Punjab’s Capacity
Kataria emphasized Punjab’s extensive network of universities, engineering colleges, nursing institutes, pharmacy colleges, law schools, management institutes, paramedical colleges and skill‑based institutions, which collectively have the capacity to accommodate students from across India.
Historical Ties
He also reflected on the historical relationship between Punjab and the two eastern states, stating that migrants from Bihar and Jharkhand have played a pivotal role in Punjab’s agricultural, industrial, infrastructural and service‑sector growth, including contributions to the Green and White Revolutions.
Participating Institutions
The summits featured participation from more than twenty leading Punjab institutions, including Aryans Group of Colleges, Akal Group of Institutions, Amar Shaheed Baba Ajit Singh Jujhar Singh Memorial College of Pharmacy, Baba Farid Group of Institutions, GNA University, Global Group of Institutes, Golden Group of Institutions, Gulzar Group of Colleges, ISF College of Pharmacy, KC Group of Institutions, Mahant Gurbanta Dass Memorial Group of Institutions, Khalsa College, Modern Group of Colleges, SBS Group of Educational Institutions, Sri Sai Group of Institutes, St. Mary Rehabilitation University, Sukhjinder Group of Institutes, SVIET Group of Institutes and Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions.
Disclaimer
The press release was issued under an arrangement with NRDPL, and PTI disclaims any editorial responsibility for its content.