Pondicherry University

Pondicherry University

Seal of Pondicherry University
Motto	तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय (Sanskrit)
Motto in English	From Darkness, towards the Light!
Type	Central Research University
Established	1985; 39 years ago (1985)
Accreditation	NAAC Accredited With Grade 'A+'
Affiliation	UGC BCI PCI AICTE ICSSR ICMR ICAR
Chancellor	Vice President of India
Vice-Chancellor	K. Tharanikkarasu[1]
Rector	Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry
Visitor	President of India
Students	40,804[2]
Undergraduates	35,000[2]
Postgraduates	4,642[2]
Doctoral students	1,162[2]
Location	Kalapet, Pondicherry , India 12°00′57″N 79°51′31″E / 12.0159°N 79.8585°E / 12.0159; 79.8585
Campus	Urban, 1000 acres
Colours
Mascot	Lotus
Website	www.pondiuni.edu.in

Pondicherry University, also known as PU, is a central research university located in Kalapet, Pondicherry in Union Territory of Puducherry, India. It was established by an Act of Parliament in 1985 by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. The Vice President of India is the Chancellor along with the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry acting as the Chief Rector and the President of India is the Visitor of the university. The university is a collegiate university with its jurisdiction spread over the Union Territory of Puducherry located in Tamil Nadu (Pondicherry and Karaikal), Kerala (Mahé) and Andhra Pradesh (Yanam), and Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The vast jurisdiction over three Union Territories namely gives the university a national character. The residents speak diverse languages such as English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali, Odia, Assamese, Kannada and French.

Local skill sets are advanced through several vocational programs such as paramedical courses using the on-site hospital facilities.^[3][4]