PAU's 12th Vice-Chancellor: horticulturist Harvinder Dhaliwal takes charge
By TUF News Desk · Published 18 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Punjab Agricultural University’s new Vice-Chancellor came up through its own ranks. Dr Harvinder Singh Dhaliwal, an agricultural scientist who has spent nearly 31 years at the institution, took charge on Thursday as the 12th Vice-Chancellor of PAU, Ludhiana.
Dhaliwal is a horticulturist who specialises in fruit science. He is a PAU alumnus with a BSc in agriculture, an MSc in pomology and a PhD from the university. He has led all three core functions of the university: as Dean of the College of Agriculture from 2013 to 2017, as Additional Director of Research (Horticulture), and as Director of Extension Education.
An appointment that ends a two-month wait
Dhaliwal’s appointment ends nearly two months of stopgap leadership. Former Vice-Chancellor Dr SS Gosal retired on August 18. The additional charge was given first to PAU Registrar Rishi Pal Singh, and then in September to IAS officer Sukhjeet Pal Singh, whom the state government had appointed as PAU Registrar.
Faculty and staff welcomed the appointment. PAU Teachers’ Association president HS Kingra said there could not have been a better choice, pointing to Dhaliwal’s experience as a scientist, teacher and administrator. Registrar Sukhjeet Pal Singh said the university fraternity looked forward to working under his guidance. PAU Employees’ Union president Baldev Singh Walia said employees had high expectations from the new VC.
A scientist’s record
Dhaliwal’s research record runs deep. Twenty-eight of his recommendations form part of PAU’s Package of Practices. He introduced banana and amla cultivation in Punjab and developed 11 fruit varieties, including the low-seeded PAU Kinnow-1. He has led six research projects as principal or co-principal investigator and has 189 publications, 81 of them research papers in national and international journals.
His work also crossed borders. He carried out advanced research on citrus improvement at the University of Florida and built collaborations with the university, Curtin University of Technology in Australia, and the University of Maine. He contributed to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Fifth Deans’ Committee and to the formulation of minimum standards for higher agricultural education. At PAU, his initiatives led to the setting up of a state-of-the-art Leaf Analysis Laboratory and a nationally accredited virus-free nursery.
What he said about the road ahead
After taking charge, Dhaliwal called on the university’s staff to strengthen its legacy of scientific excellence and service to the farming community. He recalled PAU’s role in transforming India from a food-deficient nation into one of abundance, and said the university’s responsibilities had grown with the contemporary challenges facing agriculture.
Those challenges are crop diversification, natural resource conservation and farm profitability. Dhaliwal was born and raised in a rural family in Mansa district. Both reports on his appointment note that he has stayed closely connected to farmers and rural communities through his career.
Why this matters to students
For aspirants, the change matters because a vice-chancellor shapes a university’s research priorities and its extension reach. PAU is one of India’s oldest agricultural universities, and its extension network is what carries campus research out to farms. Students can follow university announcements on the official PAU website.
If agriculture is on your shortlist, compare Punjab Agricultural University with other options. A ranking check helps put agricultural universities in order, and the documents checklist applies before you apply anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the new Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University?
Dr Harvinder Singh Dhaliwal, an agricultural scientist and horticulture specialist in fruit science. He took charge as PAU’s 12th Vice-Chancellor on October 15, 2026.
What is Dr Dhaliwal’s academic and professional background?
He is a PAU alumnus with a BSc in agriculture, an MSc in pomology and a PhD from the university, and has nearly 31 years of experience across teaching, research and extension. He earlier served as Dean of the College of Agriculture, Additional Director of Research (Horticulture) and Director of Extension Education.
Why did PAU need a new Vice-Chancellor?
Former VC Dr SS Gosal retired on August 18, 2026. The post was then held on an additional-charge basis for nearly two months before Dhaliwal took over.
What are the main challenges named for the new VC’s tenure?
The appointment announcement named crop diversification, natural resource conservation and farm profitability.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the new Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University?
Dr Harvinder Singh Dhaliwal, an agricultural scientist and horticulture specialist in fruit science. He took charge as PAU's 12th Vice-Chancellor on October 15, 2026.
What is Dr Dhaliwal's academic and professional background?
He is a PAU alumnus with a BSc in agriculture, an MSc in pomology and a PhD from the university, and has nearly 31 years of experience across teaching, research and extension. He earlier served as Dean of the College of Agriculture, Additional Director of Research (Horticulture) and Director of Extension Education.
Why did PAU need a new Vice-Chancellor?
Former VC Dr SS Gosal retired on August 18, 2026. The post was then held on an additional-charge basis for nearly two months before Dhaliwal took over.
What are the main challenges named for the new VC's tenure?
The appointment announcement named crop diversification, natural resource conservation and farm profitability.
Sources: The Indian Express, The Tribune